Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #34 (11-11-2025)

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, Stereo/3D, macro, Infrared, dragged shutter, zone plate, motion, fluorescence, multiple exposure, birefringence, ultra violet, optical including adapted lenses, tri color, fractals, manipulated Polaroids, intentional camera movement, 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. Are you unsure if the image fits the category? Don't worry, just post it. FEEL FREE TO POST MULTIPLE TIMES TO THIS THREAD. Have fun!

Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

A store-bought trinket over the lens.
Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

Very nice and interesting looking result! I love how beautifully the CAs add some interesting color nuances to the image.

Cut Larry by simple.joy, on Flickr

Nice humorous image. Took me a while to see the face. You've created a terrific image using another fine optic.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

These are a couple of shots from inside the Great Hall at Adelaide Uni during the Illuminate Adelaide Festival a few months ago. They are composites of a single shot with one where the lens was zoomed during the exposure.

I, You, We ?

This die is in german and helps to decide who should do a task :-)

It was rolled on a table in a darkish room between these two anxious onlookers.
...while I used a singe exposure and repeat flash to capture that one die rolling by.

These were done way back in 2011, seems I was more experimental back then :-)

Thank you. Also like the added CA color. It adds uniqueness to the shot. Believe this was using a child's bug eye lens shifted off center with a tilted Lensbaby. Hard to remember all the experimental thing's I've tried and the "digital secretary" doest keep complete notes either :).

I find the added depth interesting. This was taken on a standard 6" window sill. Somehow, this optic combo makes it look much deeper.
Thanks,
barondla

Super idea combining zoom frames with stills. Technique provides plenty of punch and excitement. Guessing you used a tripod? I prefer the blue one. This post is referring to the @RichardA zooming photos. Not sure why his images are missing in this quote. Sorry for the confusion.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Thanks. These were actually hand held. The zoomed exposures were 1sec.

Fascinating images and great implementation. Using repeating flash to "capture" the rolling dice is brilliant. The watchers remind me a little of ghosts. Probably wouldn't if I could read German.

After posting some of my older images in these weekly threads, I wonder if I haven't become less creative as well? It seems there is just less time to take photos and play. Work has never returned to pre covid levels and I have two elderly parents to partially care for. I may still be as creative, but have less time to practice. I need to shoot more.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

I can see the slight movement now. Bigger screen helps. You held remarkably steady for 1 second exposures.
Thanks,
barondla

Great IBIS in the Sony A7R5 helps! I think photos like this can look a bit sterile if they are too perfect.

Light reflections in crystals.

(for cross-view)

Gorgeous colors in the crystals. The 3D amplifies it. What would the spacing between the two cameras be for something so close? This almost looks like UV fluorescence. Have you ever tried that in stereo? Love the crystals.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

These crystals are grown by me (~three months), and they are not small this time. The specimen is ~7 cm wide. For this size I applied the formula of 1/20 (stereoscopic base vs. distance between sensor and subject).
I haven't played with fluorescent light yet.
Thanks for the appreciation!

Neat that you grow these. It never occurred to me they are so large. Three months is a hefty investment in a photo project. Definitely worth it in this case.
Thanks,
barondla

Some of them are sold in decorative mounts, they are not photo projects.🙂

This one for example has similar dimensions, but I grew it omnidirectionally, almost as if it could fit into a sphere. The colors are given by the lighting and a special photo filter.