Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #35 (11-18-2025)

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

Water Drops. Different lighting this time. This shot placed drops on a tablet screen. Backlighting makes intense colors. Used the Pentax DFA100 macro lens for this image.
Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

Even if I capture a hovering dragonfly in focus, when it takes off with a turn it always goes oof before the AF can catch up. And there will be at least some motion blur unless I happen to have a quite high ss. Here, later afternoon with lowish ss of 1/125, the motion blur shows just how fast these critters can move. I also wish to note the difference in wing motion. These guys are masters of flight. Notice the rear wings have beaten through their full range at least once in the capture but its right front wing has moved through a quite small range and its left wing somewhat more so. They also have the capacity to alter the pitch and beat frequency of any wing affecting their flight as required.

Amazing science information recorded in this image. Didn't know their wings could move at vastly different speeds, at the same time. Pretty cool that you captured the image and are able to "read" the results. Gaining more knowledge of these fascinating creatures is a great accomplishment.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Ghost Tree...

Very supernatural/spooky looking. The tree limbs are like veins. Weird and creepy effect. Well done.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

There is plenty of interesting stuff out there - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly

At about 1:20 in this short video there is a clip observing the wing actuators in action - dragonflywebsite.com/dragonfly-flight.cfm

Thanks for the links. Amazing that they can sync or beat wings out of phase and corner up to 9G. Thought they always synchronized wings while flying. They have a lot more choices. Fascinating. Every year we have a lot of them in the corn fields. Only lasts 1-2 weeks. I need to try photographing them next year.
Thanks for the links, photos and info,
barondla

Weird and wonderful! Is the blue colour from reflection of something or is it blue light source?

Marvelous capture. Is he slowing down to land on the plant on the left? Guess he could be trying to take off? Either way a great catch and interesting experimental photo.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

The blue is coming from a very brightly (blue) lit building to the right.

Guessing this is a white bark tree? That might explain why it reflects the blue light so well. Very creative image and something I've never seen before.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barond

Thanks.
I had been taking a couple of him perched on that reed bottom left. He took off just as I pressed the shutter. Shows how quick they can move. Just a lucky shot really, getting that one piece of wing in reasonable focus and not too much motion blur on it.

It’s a London Plane Tree.