3.3.2. Abstract Photography

Warm Up:🔥What 3 ways can negative space be used in landscape photography? Select 3 that apply.A. to create relatable storiesB. to make the subject more apparentC. to set the mood of the photographD. to avoid distraction in the image

05:20

Welcome!

Review 3.3.1.

• Identify the moods, emotions, and ideas captured in fine art photographs
• Identify things to consider before capturing fine art photographs
• Express an opinion on the concept used in an artwork
• Outline an idea to compose a fine art photograph

• 11/20: Photojournalism Assignment
• 11/27: Work Day
• 1/28-12/2: Fall break
• 12/4: Unit 3 Test

Portrait Assignment

• The subject should be a person, but it can be a pet, or action figure.
• LABEL each image with Portrait Type
• The photo needs to be in focus!
• No photos taken by professional photographers
• YOU need to take the photographs!!!!!

Reminders:

recap 3.3.1.

• Various types of fine art photography
• How to approach fine art photography
• Tips and techniques used for capturing fine art photographs
• The moods and emotions captured in fine art photographs

Abstract Photography

3.3.2.

Vocab: abstraction, abstract photography

Learners can...

• Identify features of abstract photography
• Classify photographs as abstract or fine art
• Identify tips and techniques that can be used to capture abstract photographs
• Give an opinion about the emotions and ideas expressed in an abstract photograph

3.2.2.

Abstraction

Abstraction and Abstract Photography

Abstraction occurs in art when an artist uses a recognizable subject but portrays it unrealistically.The subject is recognizable, but the manner of presentation is not realistic.

Abstraction and Abstract Photography

🔥Abstract photography portrays a recognizable subject unrealistically to express ideas and emotions. Because abstract photographs portray a subject unrealistically, they can be interpreted in various ways. People may interpret a single photograph differently based on their own perceptions and personal experiences. Abstract photography is not a realistic representation of what the photographer is photographing.

As challenging as composing abstract photographs may be, abstract photography provides an excellent platform for amateur photographers to experiment and put their creative impulses to use. Abstract photography allows you to break free of the limits imposed by the need to capture a subject with a specific camera angle or technique. There are no obligations or firm rules about what you might do.

Creating Abstract Photographs

Starting Small

• Take a close look at your surroundings. Start by choosing a familiar subject. This subject may be anything in your surroundings, such as a rug, a desk, a window, a lamp, or a bookshelf. Photographing familiar or small objects within your surroundings will give you the freedom to experiment at your own pace.
• Practice photographing your subject in unusual ways. Try to capture images of your subject that might defy a viewer's ability to recognize that subject. Think of it as a way to make the familiar entirely new to a viewer.

Thinking Big

• After you have practiced with everyday objects, explore and experiment with bigger subjects, such as staircases or buildings, or with natural objects, such as trees.
• Once you have chosen a subject, spend some time thinking about and visualizing it in different ways. Think about how you might use colors, lines, and shapes. Determine whether techniques like adjusting focus or exposure or filling the frame will be to your advantage. How can you show your subject in a creative way?
• Finally, consider how you might manipulate your photographs to portray your artistic vision. Think about how you might edit a photograph by adding or removing color, cropping it, enlarging the subject, or flipping the image.

Experimenting with Abstract photography

Choosing Subjects for Abstract Photographs

As you know, there are very few limits to what you might do to capture and create an abstract photograph. Here are a few tips that you might use as you search for subjects and compose your first abstract works:

• Choose unique subjects.
• Look for shapes, patterns, and textures.
• Compose using only a section of the subject.
• Experiment with different perspectives.

Seemingly uninteresting things can provide you with unique subjects and awesome textures for abstract photographs. Consider subjects that people often overlook or ignore in daily life. They include:

• rusted metal
• decaying wood
• peeling paint

🔥Choose Unique Subjects

Study your surroundings, and look for:

• interesting shapes, patterns, and textures
• recurring shapes or themes

Shapes, patterns, textures, and themes can make compositions lively and eye-catching.

🔥Look for Shapes, Patterns, and Textures

While composing, keep these points in mind:

• Visualize subjects differently from the way they are typically seen.

• Instead of capturing a picture of your subject as a whole, find parts of it that look interesting.

🔥Compose Using Only a Section of the Subject

Everyday objects can be made interesting by capturing them from:

• different perspectives
• different camera angles

For example, in this photograph, a subject going over data displayed on a glass touch screen has been captured through the screen.

🔥Experiment with Different Perspectives

Question

🔥Use a Shallow Depth of Field

Using a shallow depth of field can take an ordinary photograph and make it extraordinary, sometimes creating an entirely new vision of a common subject.Using a shallow depth of field helps to:

• keep one part of the picture sharp and the rest of it blurry
• provide a sense of intrigue

You do not need a high-end DSLR camera in order to capture abstract photographs. In fact, you can get awesome abstract photographs using your mobile phone. Here are few tips to consider the next time you are using the camera on your phone:

• Play with perspective.
• Look for lines.
• Shoot in black and white.

Capturing Abstract Photographs Using a Smartphone

Question

1.

2. Fine Art Photography

1. Abstract Photography

Sort the photographs below into one of the two categories.

Now, use what you have learned about abstract photography to compose your own abstract photograph using your mobile phone or digital camera. Take as many shots as you would like, and complete the activity by sharing your favorite one with your teacher. Follow these steps to compose your abstract photograph:

1. First, select a subject.
2. Next, decide how your subject will be abstracted.
3. Finally, select a camera technique that supports your plan for the photograph.

*Optional Activity*

Summary 3.3.2.

In today's lesson, you learned:

• The definitions of abstraction and abstract photography
• How to identify works of abstract photography
• Tips and techniques for capturing abstract photographs

In an upcoming lesson, you will learn about photojournalism.

Questions? Please fill out the exit question.

Shooting in black and white can provide many advantages in abstract photography: It places the focus on the subject; a viewer is not distracted by the surrounding colors. It can make a commonplace scene seem dramatic. It provides a classic look and feel, sometimes evoking a feeling of nostalgia in viewers.

Shoot in Black and White

Lines create a sense of order in an image. If your subject appears messy and chaotic, all you have to do is include some lines to give it a proper structure. This is an excellent technique for drawing focus to a particular aspect of your photograph. To achieve this effect, compose your photograph in such a way that lines converge at the point at which your object of interest is located.

Look for Lines

One of the most effective techniques for taking good abstract photographs is to get really close to your subject. This allows you to catch shapes and patterns that might otherwise be missed by the human eye. You can also try shooting a subject from angles that viewers might not be accustomed to seeing. People usually see things at eye level, so capturing photographs from a higher or lower point of view will provide an entirely different perspective.

Play with Perspective