Abstract Photography Ideas - Change your Photography FOREVER!
What is Abstract photography? How do you create ‘GREAT’ abstract photography? and where do you get abstract photography ideas from? Well in this tutorial we’ll answer these questions, teach you how to create abstract photography and in the process change the way you look at photography forever!
So What is Abstract Photography?
Before we delve into the abstract photography part, let’s first look at the word ‘Abstract’ and what it actually means. Abstract means something that is ‘non-representational’, to put it another way, it means it doesn’t directly look like what it is. Let’s also remember you have a lot of abstract mediums outside of photography. These would include abstract art, abstract literature, and abstract films.
In the dictionary the word Abstract states:
“Relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures.”
Below is a good example of what abstract is. Here is a painting by Pablo Picasso titled ‘Weeping Woman’. The girl in the painting is called Dora Marr however the viewer would never know what she looked like from the painting. It doesn’t realistically represent her in any way. It is a non-representational picture of Dora Marr.
Picasso, Weeping Woman © Succession Picasso/DACS 2020
An abstract photograph is a picture of something that doesn’t represent what it actually is. If you show someone an example of your abstract photography and they say “wow, that’s a great photo….What is it?”, then you’ve nailed this genre of photography on the head!
Abstract example of the Louvre, Abu Dhabi - @alvaropinot unsplashed.com
Get access to ALL our online courses - 1000’s of videos, worksheets, critiques of members work, personalised support and much more with our monthly membership.
How do you create ‘Great’ Abstract Photography?
Creating good abstract photography is challenging and requires you to think outside the box and take pictures that you wouldn’t normally take. This is also why it’s great practice for any photographer, especially if you’ve been stuck in a rut for a while.
When searching for abstract photography ideas, look for things that you can reframe and compose in a different way so no one is going to recognize it. But, it’s still got to be interesting. This is key to great abstract photography when looking at your photograph ask your self - is it non-recognisable? And, is it interesting to look at? If the answer is yes to both, you’ve nailed it!
To learn more about framing and composition in photography, click here.
Abstract photograph of Digger Tracks - Camera Settings: 1/600th Second - f.2.8 - 40mm Focal length - ISO 200
Photographer taking an abstract photo of digger tracks
Want 10% off your first course? Click here
Ideas for Abstract Photography
Pick out sections
Instead of taken a picture of something as a whole, find parts of the object that would look interesting when framed in your viewfinder. Remember we are used to seeing things as a whole and the camera gives a perfect opportunity to change that and box things into nice little rectangular sections.
Abstract photography showing the side of building - @brobroda unsplashed.com
Decay
Always a winner is to find some rusted metal or decaying wood and crop into segments of it. Great for abstract but also great for giving your photography some texture.
Example of Abstract Photography using rusted metal - Camera Settings: 1/1000th Second - f.2.8 - 40mm Focal length - ISO 200
Photographer taking abstract picture of rusted metal
Get under stuff!
If you can physically look at an object in a different way, then you’re more than likely to get an abstract view of it. Getting underneath stuff is a good way to do this but it doesn’t just have to be underneath, try getting close and looking along the side of things or lookup etc. Anything that will give you an unusual view of that object will more than likely result in an abstract photograph of it.
Abstract black and white photo underneath a conveyor belt - Camera Settings: 1/160th Second - f.2.8 - 24mm Focal length - ISO 200
Photographer taking abstract photo underneath a conveyor belt
Look through things
If you see a hole, look through it! You never know you might see a good composition. The other thing it will do provide a frame within a frame. This is a great compositional technique anyway and mixed with the theme of abstract you’re sure to get some great photography.
Abstract photography example through the back of the truck - Camera Settings: 1/320th Second - f.2.8 - 35mm Focal length - ISO 200
Photographer taking picture through the back of the truck
Shallow Depth of Field
A really easy way to create an abstract photo is to use a shallow depth of field within your image. This is a technique that keeps one part sharp and makes the rest blurry. This look will enhance a sense of intrigue as most of the image will be blurred with only a suggestion of what the object is being created by the clear part of the photograph.
To learn more about how to create a shallow depth of field, click here.
Abstract photograph of wood cladding - Camera Settings: 1/50th Second - f.2.8 - 50mm Focal length - ISO 400
Abstract photo of water drops on phone display - @dominikreallife unsplashed.com
Cropping and Post Processing
A little bit of cropping and enhancement in post-production is great for abstract photography. This is usually done in programs such as Photoshop or Lightroom but can easily be done on a mobile phone if needed. It will just help in those final refinements and can add more contrast and colour to your photography.
To learn how to professionally edit photographs in Photoshop and Lightroom, click here.
Abstract picture of an air duct - Raw image
Processed in Lightroom - Abstract picture of an air duct - Camera Settings: 1/80th Second - f.2.8 - 40mm Focal length - ISO 4000
Try something completely different
As the word suggests, try going abstract in the way you take photographs, lay on the floor, move your camera during the exposure, take pictures without looking through the frame etc. Come out of your comfort zone and above all, have fun whilst doing it.
And when you take your abstract photos, we want to see the results. Simply add the tag #theschoolofphotography on social media so we can see it, and if we like it, we’ll share it on our feed.
Instagram - @theschoolofphotography1
Facebook - @theschoolofphotography1
Get instant access to all our high-quality online courses.
Like this? - Check out similar tutorials below
I hope you liked this tutorial, please leave us a comment and support us by sharing it with your friends and subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page for more.
We also have an excellent learning community on social media so please join us there as well.
Thanks for watching and remember – Learn more at The School of Photography.
