Weekly Photo Contest: Abstract (April 30 - May 6, 2021)

[Nathan King]

I'm keeping this theme broad. An abstract photograph should not permit the viewer to immediately associate the image with the subject. The photograph can be abstracted by any means (framing, focus, chiaroscuro, multiple exposure, manipulation, etc.).

Standard rules apply.

• Follow all relevant local laws regarding stay-at-home orders. If you can't go outside, try and take a photo at home or grab one from the archives.
• Do not comment, vote, react or click “like” on images prior to the winners being announced.
• The photographs must be your own work.
• You may only submit one photo per contest.
• This contest runs for one week. If in doubt, check the dates in the title.
• At the end of the week, The Judge will choose a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.
• If the Judge is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline, then last week's 2nd place has to step in. 3rd place takes over should 2nd place be similarly unable to officiate.
• The 1st place Winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the Judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create a new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).
• Be sure to update the Contest Master List as soon as you post a new theme.
• Contest ends at 23:59 Central Time on May 6th

 

[deep diver]

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Why not?

 

[Hughmac]

A little bit of ICM...



Nikon D5200, Sigma 18-300mm, 1/10 @ f/22

Cheers

Hugh

 

[AllergyDoc]

 

[Clix Pix]

 

[Laird Knox]

Doom AR

 

[mollyc]

 

[Nathan King]

Today is the last day! Don't forget to get entries in. As expected, it looks like I have my work cut out for me.

 

[StrollerEd]

 

[thirsty_monk]

 

[Janichsan]

 

[Nathan King]

This is closed. I'll have feedback and results later today.

 

[Nathan King]

deep diver: I love the vibrance of the blue color. The lonely warm orange splotch serves to balance the heavier cracks on the right side. Perhaps adding a touch of clarity would bring out the texture of the cracks a bit more.

OldMacs4Me: Your photograph reminds me of an Impressionist painting. The combination of warm and cool tones balances it reasonably well, although it lacks a focal point.

Hughmac: This is an excellent use of a slow shutter speed, and I like the repetitive motif of an arc in pink, white, and blue tones.

AllergyDoc: There is a very contemporary, "out there" vibe to this. The stain appears to be gesturing upward. What is it pointing to? Perhaps placing it lower in the frame, exposing more concrete above would add to the mystery.

Clix Pix: There is a dynamic combination of bright and dark tones here. I like how you haven't entirely crushed the blacks, so they retain some of the rippled texture.

Laird Knox: I like the symmetry. The leading lines draw your eye to the domed object at the center of the frame. I usually object to photographs with a centered horizon, but it works here.

mollyc: The flower is focused just enough to provide a focal point with a bit of form. The pastel colors and generous exposure give this an airy vibe. I like the off-center framing and use of negative space to the left.

StrollerEd: I certainly have no idea what I'm looking at! I'm curious what this would look like if you brought down the shadows even a bit more. The organic shape is interesting.

thirsty_monk: I appreciate that you've carefully aligned the verticals. The lines made diagonal by perspective add a dynamic element, and the directional lighting adds another set of parallel lines in the form of shadow.

Janischsan: This has an interesting composition, with a dark section just in from the right edge of the frame. The facade slowly gains dimension as your eyes run down toward the lower right side of the frame.

This is difficult, and I hate having to rate them, but here are my thoughts:

3rd: Hughmac
2nd: Clix Pix
1st: OldMacs4Me

 

[Hughmac]

Thanks for the ultra-safe podium position, and congrats to the top winners.

A great contest, made me think and experiment.
The photo I chose as the entry is of our apple tree in full blossom, taken with a slight intentional camera movement, hence the slower shutter speed.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[Nathan King]

Thanks for the ultra-safe podium position, and congrats to the top winners.

A great contest, made me think and experiment.
The photo I chose as the entry is of our apple tree in full blossom, taken with a slight intentional camera movement, hence the slower shutter speed.

Cheers

Hugh

Interesting! I thought it was flowers among some tall grass.

 

[Clix Pix]

Thank you for the safe second place on the podium! I love watching the way the light hits the lake and picks up reflections, and one afternoon when I was shooting something else -- probably Alfred, the Hooded Mergansers or the geese -- I noticed this intriguing pattern and immediately focused and shot before anything changed. I enjoy shooting abstracts and seeing how shapes, textures and colors can make the ordinary look extraordinary.

Congratulations to OldMacs4Me -- wonderful image, definitely has that "impressionist painting" feel to it! Congratulations, too, to Hugh, and your image shows how magical intentional camera movement can be..... you created "feathers!" Very cool.

This was a fun topic and fun seeing how everyone interpreted it -- really nice images here!

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Thanks for the unexpected top billing. It did indeed lack a focal point, as I deliberately toned it down due to a bad location.

Overall some great entries, which must have been fun to judge.

New topic is now posted.

 

[StrollerEd]

View attachment 1770653

First, many congratulations to the podium, being the best of inspirational takes, and thanks to Nathan.

This had me stumped as well, even before I started the ‘abstraction’. I’ll use my POTD to share the initial shot.

At first I thought it was the work of a new type of spider. However, it turned out to be a fancy teabag! It had been sent to the compost & had made it, unnoticed, into the soil used when planting out.

 

[Laird Knox]

Laird Knox: I like the symmetry. The leading lines draw your eye to the domed object at the center of the frame. I usually object to photographs with a centered horizon, but it works here.

Thanks for the feedback. It reminds me of an old 3D game like Doom. The security camera looks like it is hovering above the surface in front of the back wall.

It is actually the side of the building. The features are an inch or so tall. I've had fun shooting textures with a Cyber-shot RX-100 camera. I went with the Mark V instead of the VI because of the wider f1.8 aperture. I wanted the better night performance but it also works well for DoF.

There are lots of fun things out there when you get up close.