Abstract
photography is one of the most popular types of photography there is -quite
possibly the most popular. After all, who doesn’t like photos of pretty
wildflowers, rushing streams and mountainsides awash are the vibrant reds,
oranges, and yellows of autumn?
However,
no matter how much you love a certain subject or scene, after a while you start
to run out of ideas on how to photograph it in ways that don’t look just like
every other photo you’ve made of that subject. Creating abstract nature
photographs of these same old places and things is a great way to revitalize
and add interest to your nature photography.
If
you’re looking for photography techniques that will breathe new life into your
images, look no further than your own backyard. Today, I’m going to share some
of my tips and techniques how to create abstract photography to capture the
beauty of nature in a way that will have audiences saying, “I love it!”
More
often than not, that statement is followed shortly by, “But what is it?” Aside from
the intrigue and mystery of the images themselves, the other great things about
capturing abstract nature photographs are that it’s fun, rewarding, and perhaps
best of all, doesn’t require any specialized gear.
1.
Hunt for shapes, patterns and textures.
Nature
is full of interesting shapes, patterns and textures that can be used to make
abstract photos. Plants make outstanding subjects for abstract photographs
because they often have all three.
I
look forward to the early spring arrival of the false hellebore, shown in the
image above, more than even my favourite wildflowers due to the vibrant green
and wonderful patterns of the leaves. Like fingerprints, no two plants are
alike, and I never get bored of photographing them.
During
winter (possibly being my favourite time of year to photograph), I’m always on
the lookout for ice. The ice forming along the banks of a swiftly flowing
stream is a treasure trove of great patterns and texture.
2.
Get in close.
As
simple as it sounds, close-ups of some of your favourite flowers and plants can
give you great results if abstract style nature photos are what you’re after.
An
extreme close-up of a red rose turns an everyday flower photograph into an
abstract image, rich in light and shadow.
3.
Look for water, reflections and flow.
Reflections
on water are an excellent source for abstract images. The reflection of
brilliant white birch trees and golden fall foliage, interspersed with
evergreen, on the surface of a small New Hampshire lake resulted in a photo
with a great abstract, impressionist quality.
“Fallen leaves floating on the surface of a
stream or bubbles circling in the currents captured with a long exposure are
another great way to use water along with motion to give a decidedly abstract
quality to the final photograph.”
Use
camera movement and manipulation: 3 different techniques
Now
we’re going to get really creative and adventurous with our camera and lenses.
In
normal nature photography having your camera securely mounted on a tripod in
order to get the sharpest possible photos is the norm. What I’m about to share
is going to throw that right out the window.
One
of the most creative ways to take abstract photos in nature is with camera
manipulation or movement during exposure. Swinging, panning, tilting and
zooming as you press the shutter are all tricks I use regularly when I’m in an
abstract state of mind.
A
few words of caution before we begin: Some of the techniques I’m about to share
is not for the faint of heart. If you’re not careful you may very well end up
watching your camera sail off into the woods or over the bank into a river. So
be very careful.
1.
Zoom it:
Compose
your photo as you normally would, and then just zoom the lens as you press the
shutter. Depending on the lighting conditions you may need to stop the lens
down to a smaller aperture to allow for a longer shutter speed for the zoom
effect you want. Also, experiment with zooming speed and direction.
2.
Swing it:
In
this next photo, I made sure my camera was SECURELY mounted on my tripod, which
I then double and triple checked. Then, I picked the tripod up by the end of
the legs and proceeded to swing my camera out over a fast running stream.
Holding the ends of the tripod legs in one hand and a remote shutter release in
the other I was able to press the shutter button on the remote just as the
camera was swinging out over the water. I had to do this several times;
adjusting camera settings as well as my swinging speed before I got a photo I
was happy with.
3.
Pan side-to-side and up and down.
Panning
is moving the camera side to side, and tilting is moving the camera up and
down.
As with the other camera movement techniques,
you’ll need to experiment with camera settings and the speed with which you pan
or tilt the camera. Also, unlike swinging your camera by the tripod, with
panning and tilting you can have the camera securely on a tripod, on nice firm
ground. Or, you can hold it in both hands as you move the camera.
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