Weekly Abstract and Experimental Thread #64 (6-9-2026)

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

Some snails fluoresce blue under UV light! Found this guy with the 365nm UV flashlight fitted with ZWB2 filter. Pentax 645Z with 120 macro lens and Zeiss UV Pro filter to reduce blue light. This had to be taken at a much higher ISO 32,000 than I wanted. Would love more depth of field, but that would have meant even higher ISO. Didn't help that the snail never stopped crawling. Always crawling, crawling and crawling.

This was very difficult to shoot. He kept crawling out of frame and I had to refocus constantly to keep his eyes in focus. Still happy with this first attempt.
Thanks for looking and participating,
barondla

Interesting that the slime trail seems to fluoresce even more than the snail itself.

Saw a photo of a snail in UV so I knew some fluoresce. Didn't know their trail would. I'm also surprised the trail outshines their body. It is probably accidental. Flowers use UV to guide pollinators to their center. Can't think of any advantage of a glowing trail. Nature is fascinating.
Thanks,
barondla

Low light, slow ss, motion blur landing of a Pacific Black Duck.

I think I prefer the first but included the second because of the reflection.

I also prefer #1. Believe #2 actually improves if it is cropped right above the reflection. The panning background bokeh is nice in both images. They sure give the sense of flight. Well done.
Thanks for sharing and participating,
barondla