Understanding Abstract Landscape Photography
Abstract landscape photography demonstrates a photographer’s connection to nature and captures the essence of the world around us in a unique way. With this type of photography, artists use natural elements to depict the concept of a landscape rather than shooting explicit images of a landscape. This is unlike traditional landscape photography, which has a clear subject matter and focal point of the photo.
Like most abstract art, the interpretation of abstract nature photography is up to the viewer, but some abstract landscape photography is simply better. This blog will help you learn how to identify good abstract landscape photography before buying.
Water has always been something that has relaxed me for some reason. Photographing water also has the same effect on me and it's something I'm just drawn to with my camera. I captured this on a whale watch off the coast of Maui and while I was supposed to be looking for whales, I found myself mesmerized by the movement and reflections in the water and had to capture this.
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Qualities Of Abstract Nature Photography
When creating abstract landscape photography, the photographer arguably has to do more work, since the landscape is not simply photographed, but transformed. This means regular photographic elements must be emphasized. Special lenses are used to do this, or certain aperture settings like long exposure, can transform the mundane into a seemingly magical image. When viewing and perhaps looking to purchase abstract landscape photography consider the following:
Some of these include:
- Shapes and colors - The essence of visually appealing photography, finding the right combination is key.
- Closeups or super wide angles - A change of perspective, from micro to macro, produces surprising and stunning photos.
- Lines and curves - The aesthetics of the shapes themselves create a visual flow for photos.
- Textures and patterns - Nature is full of unique structures that creat abstract-looking images.
- Reflections - Usually involving water, reflections can turn a regular-looking landscape and expand it to give it a different perspective.
- Movement within the image - Capturing a moment in time while also showcasing the natural movement of nature.
- Tone of the overall image - The mood an abstract landscape picture can impart is crucial to it's look.
- How does the image make you feel - With abstract photos, it's not necessarily about what the image is, but how it makes you feel.
I have a fun rule when photographing areas and that is don't forget to look up.....you never know what you might discover. This angle in a bamboo forest is very unique and really draws you in
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Find photographs with details that catch your eye, you should almost feel mesmerized, as if you cannot quite draw your gaze away. The biggest indicator if quality is if the image makes you feel something that you may find hard to articulate. Pay attention to textures, and light and dark. Look for photographs that offer fresh perspectives, something you have never seen before and likely to never see again, that makes you think about the subject in an entirely new way.
Common Types Of Abstract Landscapes
Shooting through something like glass, or through raindrops or grass is a great starting point for photographers just trying out abstract landscapes. This lets nature do all of the work, transforming a simple scene into something otherworldly, that the human eye can’t quite capture on its own.
One of the most peaceful zen type of an image that I've created, a long exposure at Lanikai Beach on the island of Oahu just has a surreal look. The water color and pastel tones here at sunset are just really special
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My American Southwest nature prints are a great example of abstract landscape photos. These images use the naturally beautiful orange rocks, showing off the curves, textures, and play of light and dark as art.
Some other abstract landscapes to choose from are mountains, seascapes, astrophotography, cloudscapes, and more.
The American Southwest is home to some of the most amazing slot canyons in the world. The lines, tones and color separation are just truly mind blowing and fantastic for abstract photography
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Why Photographers Love Abstract Landscapes
It’s not hard to find a beautiful place and take a photo. Part of my role as an artist is showing off landscapes in a way that brings the viewer into the moment. With abstract landscape photography, the photographer has to look deeper, showing details or an interpretation that most would miss. There are many ways to do this - such as with different lenses, shutter speeds, reflections, light or textures to name a few.
Abstract photography offers photographers the chance to capture the natural world in a unique manner. It could be argued that there are an infinite number of creative compositions, and abstract photos are an opportunity for the photographer to show off their own creative vision.
The focus becomes finding the textures and patterns that are not discernible to everyone else rather than the image as a whole. It’s no longer a direct representation, but a blending of skills and a way to test out new methods and ideas. Finding your own view into a landscape becomes the adventure.
“Abstract photography involves the act of prioritizing and employing essential elements such as color, tone, line, form, texture and the fundamental graphic considerations of composition, taking advantage of human visual cognition to compel the viewer’s imagination and emotions to think and feel in response to the work, deemphasizing or stripping away features that convey explicit meaning or objective facts.” -Outdoor Photographer
In Hawaii we have an absence of nutrients in the water which creates the most blue water that I've ever seen. If you've ever been on a boat off of Maui, you'll see exactly what I'm describing. I was drawn to this abstract scene while on a boat chasing whales off the coast of Maui. Panoramic version also available
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Learn more
A quality abstract landscape photo includes unique perspective, skills and technique but most importantly is the inherent meaning of the photo for you. The beauty in the artwork should speak to you, captivate you and grab your attention in a way that does not want to let your attention go. Without saying, a quality piece of artwork should also be printed in the latest archival methods in order to preserve its beauty for decades to come.
To see my full collection of landscape photography, visit my online gallery. I continue to update my photo collection, so follow along on social media to check out what’s new.
An abstract image I created from a beautiful oceanfront room at sunset at La Jolla Shores beach. A technique called intentional camera movement was used to create a painterly, abstract feel to this special image.
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An abstract which is achieved by moving the camera during the exposure of a grove of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees near Hana on the island of Maui
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