Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #3 (4-7-2025)

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.

Pentax K20D with Lensbaby Composer and single element plastic optic at F2.8 or 4. High ISO caused nice grain and converted to B&W. Anyone know what the subject is?
Thanks for looking,
barondla

This is one of those unclassified items. There was a flowered bowl with water in it on the kitchen table and the window reflected in it nicely so I took some pictures. They weren't that interesting so I added a paperweight from the desk and a cracked marble the kids had left on the floor. No real design or intent, I just wanted to see what would happen.

Intriguing photo. The cracked marble looks like a planet. The reflection reminds me of a giant eye watching everything. Colors are bright and cheerful but the vibe is more sinister.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

How would someone know how big that thing was in your photo?

The simple solution is to add a scale to your photos. In many cases, that’s as simple as putting a ruler, or some other item of known size, into your photo.
Some things can be integrated into the image composition, for a more interesting result, as in the attached images.
The crystals were grown directly on the head of a match, or over a 3mm diameter LED.

Message board

Well, they look like fingers or piano keys, but they are not, obviously. There is a repetition involved...

Growing crystals directly on the LED is a novel idea. It solves all kinds of lighting problems. Terrific photos.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

The power of the LED chosen is too low and should have been placed at a greater depth inside crystal. The lighting in this case was "helped" for a better effect. I should repeat the experiment with a much more powerful LED.😀

Like the Oriental look of this. The mostly monotone design adds to the piece.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

the alien at home

Continuing with my fascination with the light from my night light, my nightlight!
I tried capturing the tiny little specks of dust floating in the air, as well as my fingers approaching the light. They're completely overexposed, but it reminds me of people depictibg first contact with aliens.
Sometimes, the most alien things are right in your home!

Creative vision. Second photo definitely has an otherworldly alien presence.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

Shot Silk

This is really interesting and engaging. The composition is nicely balanced - something that sometimes is tricky in abstract images - and the colours work really well. Plus the element of mystery keeps the viewer coming back for another look.

I couldn't decide whether this belonged in Abstract or B&W this week so I'm putting it in both.

Art Gallery. Melbourne, Escher Exhibtion.

All the subtle colors are grand. The silk threads also give a hint of a pattern. Quite a peaceful image.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

Wow! Impressive composition and B&W tones. It belongs in both threads.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

I've done some thinking but few ideas. Rolling pins awaiting packing and shipping? Nope.
Whatever, the diagonal positioning and increasing soft focus gives visual movement.
C'mon, tell us.

Photography has many lives. For a scientific shot, the ruler would be fine but it would ruin these images that are about the beauty of the crystals. Being a series, it's enough to give a hint in just one of them as to the size. The match head does the job.
Growing them on a led shows the structures and sort of lights them from the inside but I'd never have guessed how it eas done.

Much larger subject than anyone is guessing. Small part of a farm combine header. Each "finger" is roughly human body sized.
Thanks,
barondla