My photography club is having an abstract photography competition. This is a genre I really struggle with. I know what abstract is, it's just tough for me to come up with compositions. Just thought I'd share one of my entries. Any constructive advice would be appreciated.
This is really interesting, Marcus. The mood is intriguing and definitely draws me into wanting to stay awhile. You have a clear structural design; so the composition is great. The grayscale is consistent with the subject matter. I like the texture of the fungus. I'm debating whether the glass should be further away from the background creating a more blurred texture on the background as well as maybe more shadows and less attention to the lines. What do you think? Also I wonder what others think about that.
Thanks for your comments Jennifer! My wife suggested a complete black background to emphasize the subject. I did a rough pass to see how it would look and it wasn't as strong as the current version. I think the pattern of the backsplash lends a leading lines element to the photo maybe? I think I will continue to play with the background to see if I can improve it.
You're right about the background providing leading lines. I actually wanted to say that. Would you be able to pull the glass forward and put more space between? I'm just not sure actually. OR maybe as Alan said, you lower the background texture filter. BUT even as it is, I love it.
As with Jennifer I find this interesting Marcus, I would think it certainly falls into the abstract category. The lighting is great, really picking out the form of the mushrooms.
I do like the filter applied to the mushrooms but wonder if the result may have been more compelling had it not been applied in the same degree on the background.
That said, it is difficult to say without seeing a comparison, and I really like the image as it stands.
Thanks for your comments Alan! After I applied the filter to the photo in PS I reduced the clarity and texture of the shadows in an attempt to emphasize the subject in LR. I think maybe I'll revisit this and compare to the current version.
I do like the original but am interested to see what you come up with.
Is the distance in bottom left the same as the top right?
I like the well defined shapes you achieved using the lighting you chose. Interesting how the texture layer(?) does not "appear" on the glass surface but feels it's on the back surface.
Did you use a light wand? Wondering because of the shape of the light reflection in the stem.
Wow....very good eye! Yes, I did use a light wand to light the subject. I applied a filter in PS and then used reduced clarity and texture in the shadows to try to highlight the subject. The distance between the top and bottom should be the same as I was directly in front of the subject. I appreciate your comments...
Hello Marcus. I really like the image. Square format, composition, tonality, light/shade. Super lush. Just love monochrome.
The only "issue" I would have is that in UK English fungi is pronounced Fun-gee (O.E.D pronunciation). Tongue-in-cheek dialectal differences aside, very nice image. Best of British to you Sir.
BTW, very nice portfolio, that Redwing in Spring is particularly eye catching.
Hi Chris, thanks for your kind words! It's actually pretty interesting to know how other areas pronounce a specific word.
I see what you are saying, it would add more dimension between the Subject and the Background.
But I could be wrong.