Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #36 (11-25-2025)

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

Wanted to see what it looks like to photograph inside an automated car wash. The Pentax Q fisheye lens is F5.6 so the ISO had to be upped to 1600. Higher than I normally like to shoot the small sensor Q. It did fine in this instance.
Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

A bit of sky-play in the GIMP. Facing North at sunset ...

Wavelet processing:- Hue, Chroma, Contrast.

Like the silhouette mixed with the purple sky. Nice choice of colors. Can Gimp process Sigma Foveon Raw files? Or did you have to use the Sigma Raw converter first?

I have a sigma SD1 merrill and always had to use it with their converter. However my Gimp is probably 7 years old. Will update it when I get a new computer.

Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Autumn

In-camera multi exposure. Textures in autumn landscapes lend themselves to this kind of treatment.

Love the impressionistic look. The lighter plants frame the dark tree nicely and add subtle contrast. Great use of this technique. How many exposures did you use in this photo?

First saw this technique years ago in a Nikon (think F2) ad. Photographer shot a little boat bobbing up and down in the water. F2 was one of the few cameras that could do multi exposures at 5fps. I was obsessed with the look of motion. My work around was to shoot on bulb in a dark room using flash. I learned quickly about flash thermal issues😂. The cheap flash died and that experiment was over.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

I think there were four, possibly five, exposures for the tree plus one for the grasses.
Capturing movement with multi exposure is another great technique to play with. I've tried it with flying birds, shooting at a reasonably fast burst speed (the EM5 II isn't all that fast by today's standards) and blending the images in post.
Last year on a trip to Albania I came across a little museum devoted to the work of Gjon Mili in his native town. He pioneered multi exposure work in film, using strobe lighting to capture dancers etc. Amazing work. His portraits are fantastic too 😁
This shows some examples;
time.com/4468503/behind-times-science-of-exercise-cover/

Fuscous Honey-eater shaking the water out after a dip.

Was wondering why the grass was more distinct than the tree. Different number of exposures explains it. Fine job blending everything together.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Dynamic photo! Hyper detailed study of time is provided by the flying water drops. Love the composition and surreal presentation.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla