The creative approach!

Abstract photography entails that the content of the work is essentially unimportant and often entirely ambiguous. What does take precedence is the form, color, line and texture within the composition, to create a piece that is visually stimulating. This requires you to use your imagination!

The first thing to remember is to keep your eyes open for interesting and engaging subject matter. Whenever I shoot abstract images, I’m always attracted to subject matter instinctively; something about it will catch my eye and draw me in. React emotionally to the subject, consider why you were attracted to it and how it makes you feel and this will inform how you photograph it. Use different angles to give it a unique approach. Try different apertures and different shutter speeds to see what looks the best.

It’s important to consider what elements of your subject that you want to engage with in order to enhance your shot. Don’t think about the subject from its literal form, forget all the photographic preconception and get creative. How can you maximize the features and details within the subject, the line, texture, color and form.

The first key element to look at is the pattern and lines within your subject. I always try to shoot an object very straight and symmetrical; to get a clinical structured feel I would enhance the affect of a pattern, but you can also try shooting at angles that counter the pattern. Look at the lines and edges of the subject, are they straight or curvy, do they lead into the shot, through the shot or away from the shot. Lines can be used very effectively in photography as the eye will tend to follow a line through a shot from its origin to its end, so consider how you might want to engage the viewer and where you want to lead them.

The form or shape of a subject will play a crucial role in how you approach your subject. Assess the form carefully and think about which aspects of the subject you want to exploit, for example, is it very straight or does it have curves and implies motion? Also think about whether there are any recognizable shapes that you can work with, circles, triangles, or hexagons, use them to your advantage!

Color is probably the strongest visual element to an abstract shot, it draws the viewer in and the color of a subject will immediately inform the viewer as to what they are looking at and form assumptions and a mood setting in their mind. Try to use color as an expression, it’s the best and easiest means to make your shots attractive to the eye and just as in a painting, think carefully about how you use color to bring certain aspects of the piece to the fore front.

Architecture makes for extremely interesting abstract subject matter, especially commercial buildings and modern structures designed for public use, as they often have distinctive shape, form and lines which are very easy to exploit. Older buildings tend to appear far more structured and are often symmetrical in nature, but this can be used to your advantage as you try to pick out patterns to use in your shot.

Another technique that works very well when trying to achieve abstract shots is working in macro. Many abstract shots are the subject matter that would be totally recognizable if it were shot from a distance, but the photographer has chosen to close in on a specific area of interest, maybe because of its texture or color. In this case, ensure that you fill your viewfinder with the subject matter; you don’t want any blank spaces in your shot. Think about the angle at which you approach the subject, for example, the most common way to shoot a flower is from above, to see the detail in the center, but maybe you could try to shoot from below up (worms eye) and see what results you get.

Failing all this, just make sure you take lots of photographs that inspire you, get close and look for things that catch your attention!