Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #18 (7-22-2025)

The weekly Abstract and Experimental thread
This weekly thread, starting on a Tuesday, allows us to showcase our abstract and experimental photos and get some feedback.
Opening up discussions, not only on content, style, composition & techniques, but also on the creativity of the image.

It’s easy to participate
Post an image with a title and description. To make it easier to view in the forum, all comments should include the original title and at least one of the original images as a quote.

Thread Guidelines:
This weekly thread is for sharing and developing abstract and experimental photography skills.
We want to see wild, creative photography.
Give your entry a clear title and mention the technique used.
Provide constructive feedback on others’ images.
Try to go beyond simple praise or dismissal and explain why you like it, or what caught your eye.
”Likes” are encouraged too.
Negative feedback and suggestions are also OK (be polite, honest, and constructive).
Giving feedback is just as important as receiving feedback, both help to improve our artistic and technical skills.

What is an abstract or experimental photo?
Different ways to see and investigate the world around us. Abstract photography reduces a subject to shapes, tones or colors making it unrecognizable. Abstract subjects are everywhere.

Experimentation might include, Infrared, dragged shutter, zone plate, motion, 3D, fluorescence, multiple exposure, birefringence, ultra violet, optical including adapted lenses, tri color, fractals, manipulated Polaroids, pinhole, Kirlian (bioelectrography) and many other methods. Experimentation can be for artistic expression or pure science. It is often more difficult than standard types of photography. This is fine, we aren't expecting perfection. Every experiment enhances knowledge. Your idea can help others explore the universe around them. We love experimentation. You can explain your process or keep it a secret.

This will be a looser collection of photos compared to other weekly threads. This is good. It will be a place to get away from standard animals, babies & sunset photos. We don't hate animals, babies or sunsets. Show us your creative abstract and experimental images. Don't worry, if you are unsure, if the image fits the category. Just post it. This is supposed to be fun.

Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

Image modified using Adobe Photoshop Elements. This is the orb technique. Anyone know what the subject is?
Thanks for looking, sharing, and participating,
barondla

Tuba / French horn - some kind of brass wind instrument?

Beach Abstracts.

No. The original parts are very straight. The orb processing causes the curves. Unfortunately, this subject isn't as melodious as a brass musical instrument. More later.
Thanks,
barondla

Sand makes a wonderful surface for your abstracts. It adds nice textures that really stand out with the side lighting. The interplay between sand and shadows is very expressive. The B&W processing ties everything together.

Love shooting sand. Just be careful, it can be quite the enemy of camera equipment.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Playing with Topaz Studio 2

Beautiful photo. Fish looks very natural. Colors are very nice and sharpness is excellent.
Haven't tried Topaz processing. Do you like it so far? Is it a simple or complicated learning curve? I'm no computer wiz and like simple. My Adobe PS Elements is long in the tooth and needs replacing. I'm not excited by the new Elements license being only 3 years.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Topaz programs are not substitute for the PSE, Lightroom, Photoshop or any dedicated photo editing software. Topaz Photo AI is mostly for the noise reduction, sharpening and upscale. Topaz Studio is a legacy software which is long discontinued and used for making images look like paintings. I use Topaz in conjunction with Lightroom Classic.

Copper drainpipe? Part of a statue/sculpture? Part of a knight's armor? Some kind of yard tool?

I do like these kinds of distortions and play with them from time to time. I use Photoshop, but the distortions are more fun in a full featured forever-licensed photo editing program called Acorn, which can be had for less than $25. (I think it is Apple only) Also the free tablet version of Frax.

I photographed these at an air show. They are giant artillery shells about 8" long. The original "documentary" image was a little boring. I liked the orb results. I don't do a lot of crazy computer manipulation but sometimes it just works. Will check out your recommendations. Hope you post some of your experiments.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

The subject makes sense now!

Here's a couple. A fern done in PS using a sort of orb distortion plus other stuff. Then a kaleidoscope distortion of lobster rope (I love lobster rope) done in Acorn. (Added the original of the lobster rope for comparison). When I have time on my hands (happens sometimes when you're old) I love to play with camera or software tools or traditional art supplies just to see what happens.

The fern came out really nice. You applied a graceful curve that is totally different than the straight ferns we are used to seeing. Excellent use of post processing skills.

The lobster rope is fantastic. You created wonderful patterns.that are dynamic and mesmerizing. They remind
me of fractals. Very pleasing image and style. @3DGunner often works with fractals and they tend to look more alien.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla
Ip
Thanks for shar8kn