You can create truly outstanding images from your nature subjects with abstract nature photography. It’s a challenging genre but one that’s also quite fulfilling!
You may be curious how to best combine what you know about abstract photography with your nature photography techniques to come up with abstract nature photography photos…
I’ll present five tips, techniques, and ideas that give you a place to jump off. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
- What Is Abstract Nature Photography?
- Abstract Nature Photography – Color
- Abstract Nature Photography – Patterns
- Abstract Nature Photography – Macro
- Displaying Your Abstract Nature Photography
- Final Thoughts on Abstract Nature Photography
What Is Abstract Nature Photography?
Photo by finepic via Shutterstock
To define abstract nature photography, we look at what might be considered as abstract art in general and how it relates to abstract photography.
From Wikipedia: “Abstract art uses visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.”
Thus, abstract photography may not represent what is actually seen, but it’s often based on what we observe in the world around us (look at the image above of Antelope Canyon.) I like to describe abstract photography as showing us what else is in those scenes in front of our eyes, whether it’s a detail of that view or an idea in our mind.
Master landscape photographer Mads Peter Iverson has an informative and inspiring YouTube video on the ideas behind abstract nature photography:
Nature photography is a pictorial representation of the natural world, be that plants, animals, landscapes, and anything else not man-made. It can include man-made things, but the image’s main focus is something not man-made.
Combine the main ideas of abstract photography with the main focus of nature photography, and you have abstract nature photography – a pictorial representation of aspects of the natural world that may or may not correlate with what we can see with our own eyes.
Confused? Don’t be. Almost any idea you might have concerning this genre will probably work on some level. You just have to try your hand at it!
Abstract Nature Photography – Color
Photo by Theo Balland via Shutterstock
Creative use of color will result in images without any overt manipulation. Sometimes, all it may take is zeroing in on a smaller part of the scene or one that is not in our normal view, such as the above aerial image of the Algarve Coast in Portugal.
Other ways to use color for abstract nature photography include color contrasts, juxtapositions of colors, arranging different camera positions, or changing the lens focal length to capture blocks of color within a scene.
Simple clouds in a blue sky could become abstract photography, depending on how we position them in our frame. Aerial views from a drone can become abstract by how we place color elements within the captured view. These are just a couple of examples you might try to focus on color in your photos.
Abstract Nature Photography – Patterns
Photo by Inna Vlasova via Shutterstock
Patterns are everywhere, from the night sky to architecture to plant growth and ripples in the sand. In the image above, a beautiful sunflower becomes an abstract photograph by getting closer and highlighting the naturally occurring Fibonacci Sequence in the growth pattern of the seeds.
Sometimes, the patterns become more obvious when we move further away from the subject. A vineyard, orchard, or wheat field can become an example of abstract nature photography as you move around to encompass the entire field of view. Creative use of color and exposure techniques can further enhance the abstract feel of the image.
Abstract Nature Photography – Macro
Photo by LVV via Shutterstock
With macro photography of natural subjects, the subject can evoke an abstract art feel all on its own. You may need to get really close, though, as in the image above of an amethyst crystal. That hard work pays off, doesn’t it? This image of a rock could be used as an illustration in a sci-fi or fantasy story.
Just by using a macro lens for a 1:1 or lifesize reproduction ratio of an everyday natural object, it can become an example of abstract nature photography. A bug’s eye, a bird’s feather, and a leaf from a tree all look otherworldly when photographed in the extreme close-up views of macro photography.
Displaying Your Abstract Nature Photography
Photo by JazzLove via Shutterstock
Displaying your abstract nature photography can add to the overall abstract quality of the artwork, depending on how it’s printed and hung up. The abstract nature photography example above could be a breathtaking addition to your living room, for example, as a large metal print.
I typically prefer metal as my substrate of choice for my landscape photos (abstract or otherwise). On the one hand, I like the sleek, modern vibe of a metal print. On the other hand, a high-quality print like those I’ve gotten from Large Metal Prints enhances the aesthetic appeal of my photos even further.
As I explain in my video above, Large Metal Prints does a wonderful job of creating prints that are color-accurate, vibrant, and well-made. A print from these folks is money well spent!
The print I reviewed in my video had a white gloss finish that absolutely knocked my socks off. This is the most popular finishing option at Large Metal Prints, and it would be a nice choice for your abstract nature photography. The reason for this is simple: the white gloss enhances the color depth and luminosity of the shot, making the abstract features of the image all the better.
You can experiment with other finishes, too, including white semi-gloss, white matte, or silver gloss. As you can see above, the finish you select can have a significant impact on the overall look and appeal of your photos.
Large Metal Prints offers a range of sizing as well. Invest in a small 4×6” image or go big with a 48×84” photo. There are also dozens of options – including custom sizes – available in between. Whatever your abstract nature photography calls for, Large Metal Prints can accommodate your sizing, frame, and finish needs.
Final Thoughts on Abstract Nature Photography
Photo by olko1975 via Shutterstock
Abstract photography is loads of fun. So is nature photography! Combining the two together can be an adventure that gets your creative juices really flowing. There are endless opportunities for abstract nature photography; you just have to dedicate the time to finding them.
So, stop reading about it, grab your gear, and make some abstract art!
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Learn More:
- What are the Best Cameras for Nature Photography?
- 5 Unique Exercises to Help Improve Your Photography Skills
Photo by Kuttelvaserova Stuchelova via Shutterstock
