Abstract Photography: Post 1
“Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element.” Just like abstract photography itself, this definition was discombobulating to me at first glance. If the “subject” is widely known as the “main character” of a photograph, how can one type of photography not emphasize it? It seemed self-contradictory.
However, when we broach the subject from another perspective, this definition becomes understandable. Abstract means “existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence“. It is a common feature of abstract photography for the image to depict not a solid sense of a “subject”, but an intangible feeling of some sort. For example, instead of depicting a staircase, I might build up a feeling of continuity; instead of including the entire window in my photo, I might choose to emphasize its harsh, metallic lines. Ultimately, abstract photography appeals to broader sensations and sentiments instead of independent and individual subjects.
My definition:
Abstract photography: The use of unconventional and often odd techniques to exemplify a general sensation through an image, instead of a singular subject.