Representational Abstracts

As readers of this blog likely know, I have recently become quite fascinated by multiple exposure abstracts. But what I have posted have been pure abstractions with no recognizable elements. With spring now here, I am planning to get outside to photograph more, and, while there is ample material for outdoor abstracts, I am also planning to make what one might call ‘representational abstracts’, which is to say abstracts with recognizable elements. These can be made in camera or, as the case was here, constructed by layering images in Photoshop after the fact.

Take this image, for example. There is abstraction to a degree, but the boats are clearly recognizable.

Boats In Coos Bay © Howard Grill

The other thing I did while ‘abstracting’ the photo was to make it represent what it felt like to be there, as opposed to what it looked like. The reality is that the day was pretty dreary, but I really enjoyed being by the docks. This is what the straight-out-of-camera image looked like. Really just a snapshot. I tried to make it into something more.

© Howard Grill

I am very much looking forward to what the coming months will bring photographically. As the weather warms, I definitely start feeling more creative.

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