Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #57 (4-21-2026)

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, pinhole, 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 viewing and participating,
barondla

Trying the Pentax Q7 on a Pentax bellows with Nikon EL-Nikkor enlarging lens. Used the Pentax Q-PKA mount adapter with leaf shutter. Flash was used to help stop movement.
Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

Accident #5

Accident #5

WhyNot

Fabulous image. The greens are lovely and create a beautiful abstract. They really pop against the black background. No way this is an accident.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla

You are learning to write in Japanese 😀? Sure looks oriental to me. I like it. Don't think dragonflies fly in the dark so this must be some kind of intentional camera movement? The blackground simplifies the composition and is very dramatic. Excellent capture.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

Not quite

But I see a running Smurf

Not quite intentional either. I was taking a couple of the moon. There were some stars / planets reasonably close so as I have done before, I vainly attempted a hand held shot. 5 secs was way beyond my boundaries but where previously I only ever saw a blurry mushy blob, this one is reasonably detailed. I need to get the tripod working (I have halfway made a new quick release plate)...

It does look like a running smurf. Would never have guessed a moon shot. You might have done better with the camera on manual exposure. 5 seconds is never the correct exposure for the moon. The Sunny 16 rule would have gotten you closer. F16 at the same shutter speed as the ISO. So so ISO 1000 would give 1/1000 shutter speed at F16. No need to shoot at F16, so open up to F8 and raise shutter speed two steps to 1/4000. You could probably drop to ISO 500 at 1/2000. This only works if the moon is two hours from horizon and there aren't any clouds. A little more exposure may be required depending on conditions. The moon isn't dark. The camera meter is trying to turn the night sky gray.
Thanks,
barondla

CSO

It's Not the moon. It was a star or planet off to the side of the moon... Here is one of the moon shots...

Superb moon photo! I originally missed the "not the moon" part. I was originally confused about how an 800mm equivalent lens could turn out such a small moon image. Duh, it can't. Planets and stars are much smaller. Makes sense now.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla

I like so many things about this complex image. Colors add lots of pizzazz and the edges contrast nicely with the softer yellow structure. Everything ties together to make a very compelling image. Bet the interior is also wild and highly photogenic.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla