So I admit, I'm pretty lost when it comes to abstract photography, and based on the voting breakdown (in non-abstract challenges) it looks like most people around here are as well. I was hoping that I could get some insight, from the fans, as to what engages you on some of these photos. Here are some recent examples:
I'm curious to hear from the voters who scored these images 10,9,8,7.
Maybe for fun, people could rank these three in order of their preference and give a bit of reasoning so I can understand the concepts of what makes one photo better than another.
Use the force!! Abstract is like laying on your back in a field looking up at the sky and dreaming up what you see. It's a frame of mind, a state of being. Anything goes and no one can tell you you are wrong.
For me I see beauty. Of course not all abstract is the same but the movement and tones and the uncertainty of what I am seeing really brings me in and makes me think about the photo. I enjoy a nice sunset as well, or a well done portrait but the others are different, an escape from reality for me and I enjoy the joy they bring me.
When viewing these photos, does one think about the challenge topic? Do you try to form what you see into that topic? Or is it admired based on whatever your mind makes of it regardless of the challenge?
When viewing these photos, does one think about the challenge topic? Do you try to form what you see into that topic? Or is it admired based on whatever your mind makes of it regardless of the challenge?
The admiration is regardless of the challenge topic but i still look to see what they say in the challenge and base my vote on that. Sometimes I think one may be a stretch for a challenge and won't score very highly but may get a fav if I really like it.
... a bit of reasoning so I can understand the concepts of what makes one photo better than another.
That's not the most productive direction to point your mind in, when it comes to images like these. There's no worst-better-best in art like this, there's just "THAT resonates with me!" for whatever reason it does.
For what it's worth, both those jmritz images you link seem to me to be connected to the topic at a primal level, especially the architecture one, which captures a sort of perfect gestalt of form and light, space and not-space. For the "baby turtle" one, can't you see/absorb the *idea* of tiny, vulnerable, flippered things sliding down and away, longing to be safe? That's what I take from it.
The titles are integral to the works, BTW. He's very, very good at titling.
I gave a 7 to the jmritz entry in blue architecture. Though it was not recognizable as a building, I figured it was likely his entry (or a cutout)and just gave the benefit of the doubt that it was on topic. I like the use of color and minimalism, but it's hard to totally explain why it appealed to me. I tend to like abstracts that are unrecognizable subjects. Not knowing what it is makes the mind focus on the interaction of patterns, colors and textures, instead of asking "is this a good picture of a _______?"
interaction of patterns, colors and textures, instead of asking "is this a good picture of a _______?"
That reminds me of a really good working definition from another abstracty thread...
Originally posted by pixelpig:
Abstract for me is when the work's strongest subject is any or all of the elements of composition--line, color, form, shape, texture, value, space, & point of view.
So it's essentially a focus on the appealing composition of the pictures. What it may imply in your own mind, and how that parlays into some sort of vague emotion or idea.
