Abstract human body photography

7 Best Techniques for Abstract Body Photography

By Megan Kennedy

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Abstract body photography is all about capturing the shapes, lines and textures of the human form in a creative way. It can be a very challenging genre to master, but with a little practice, you can create some stunning images. Here are seven tips to help you get started.

What Is Abstract Photography of the Body

Abstract photography covers a wide gamut of styles and techniques. It’s also known as non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography. But it can be a little tricky to nail down.

Abstract photography conveys emotion without relying on the depiction of obvious subject matter. Through compositional rules, abstract photographers skew, re-emphasize or deconstruct an image.

Photography of the body explores the way we visually relate to ourselves and others. Abstraction takes out the problems of the rigid subject matter.
A viewer can experience a unique study of the body as an abstract concept in itself.

An abstract photograph of the body may delineate a recognizable feature. But the emphasis shifts from the body as a familiar physical structure to that of an impactful form of art.

Paint With Light to Emphasise Forms

Light is the driving force behind all photography. Abstract photography of the body shows the play between light and the physical form.

You can use either a studio or natural light. The point is to sculpt the subject material, creating emphasis and form.

Light is a changeable resource. Artificial light has a different color temperature than a natural light source. Depending on the location and time of day, natural light can behave in different ways.

Light can also be soft or hard, again depending on the light source.

In abstract body photography, these variables come together. They investigate the materiality of the body as an interactive canvas.

Use shadows and light to create abstract body photography

Go Black and White to Remove Distractions

Abstract and black and white photography are similar. They both cultivate a sense of distance between the viewer and the image.

Most of us see in color. So black and white photography denotes a sense of surrealism. The photographer places greater emphasis on the distance between the photograph and reality.

The greater the distance, the more impetus the viewer has to bring their own meaning to a photograph.

Removing colourful clothing, ambient lighting or colour temperature gets rid of the distraction. Through this, black and white photography renders a sense of timelessness.

This connects a viewer to the image without depicting times and places that age or date.

At the same time, black and white photography creates a greater sense of depth in an image. By rendering an image in greyscale, the subtle tonalities of light are more visible.

These connect elements within a frame where colour would create separation.

Black and white is used in abstract photography of the body. The combination of timelessness and depth helps create a dynamic image.
It offers both a study of the body and frames it as a concept of its own.

Add Movement to Create Timelessness

Much of photography is based around freezing movement. Abstract photography embraces the visual qualities of motion.

Incorporating movement into photography of the body condenses physicality into a single photographic frame. And it creates a record of the body over a given amount of time.

Intentional camera movement (or ICM) is the deliberate movement of the camera. It’s done over the course of a long exposure. ICM cultivates a sense of materiality. It communicates the artistic processes of a photographer to an audience.

Combining ICM and abstract photography also introduces a layer of voyeurism. This traces the active body under the gaze of the lens.

Motion blur depicts the movement of a subject during exposure. However, motion blur is distinct in that it relies on the movement of a subject to convey an image.

Motion blur speaks to the nature of physicality through time and space. It does this by documenting the quality of a moving body.

Photograph Tattoos for More Creative Body Photography

Try incorporating tattoos into abstract photography of the human body. You’ll create a visual study of culture and tradition.

Tattoos are heavily influenced by the experiences of the wearer. Use this to articulate a sense of history in an image.

Each tattoo marks an ongoing story. It provides an intimate insight into the visual impact of the human experience.

Change Your Perspective to Add a 3D Feel

Perspective describes the nature of a subject within in a photographic plane. But a great deal of the world is experienced at eye-level.

The use of a unique perspective can give a 3D feel to a 2D subject. Perspective imbues a sense of physicality in an image. It plays with our perceptions of space and our sense of place.

A bird’s eye view of a subject creates tension but also feeds curiosity. A ground-up perspective amplifies scale, making the viewer feel smaller in an environment.

The camera lens itself also acts as a door, dictating the entry point of the viewer. A telephoto lens pushes the foreground and background together.

A fisheye or ultra-wide angle lens warps perspective in the center of the image. It makes a central subject seem bigger.

Perspective orients a viewer within a photograph. You can use these tricks in abstract photography of the body, to emphasize form or texture.

Use Lines to Emphasise the Structure of the Human Body

The visual integrity of the body is dictated by line. The line separates a subject from its surroundings. This creates a buffer between the body and the environment.

By isolating the figure, the body is defined in space. This definition delivers impact, shape, and form.

The line also constructs the inner structure of the body. Look for the natural lines of the body, such as the curvature of the ribs or the extension of the hands. These lines invigorate the tangible qualities of the body in an image.

Line forms visual paths, focal points, and frames. When used as an anchor, line hitches the image to a seam which creates balance and divides space.

Horizontal lines convey a sense of rest and balance. And diagonal lines foster an impression of movement and depth.

Line can be used to create balance and divide space

Bonus: Photograph Animal Bodies

From axolotls to zebras. Abstract photography of the body isn’t limited to the human form. People have been photographing animals since photography was invented.

You can try abstract photography of animal bodies too. Include close-ups of colorful feathers, fur patterns or beautiful animal eyes.

It can be a challenge though. Many animals don’t take direction as readily as human subjects

Focus on compositional tenets such as texture, line, and color. This creates abstract studies that speak to the nature of the physical body.

Just make sure it’s as fun for the animal as it is for you photographing them!

Creating a visual study of animals in abstraction links back to the understanding of our own materiality

Conclusion

Abstract photography of the body creates a study of our own physicality.

Photographers can explore the nature of human and animal forms. You’ll create beautiful images that speak to the character of life itself.

Abstraction emphasizes or deconstructs an image. It relies instead on a viewer’s innate responses to visual stimuli.

When combined with abstraction, photography of the body and nude photography explores the way we visually relate to ourselves and others.

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What is abstract photography and how to learn to photograph abstractions?

Abstract photography is a kind of photographic art based on the perception not of details and objects, as in a conventional image, but of shapes, colors and lines. To learn to perceive color and form, the photographer needs to abstract from the usual perception of reality, which is often difficult. This article describes methods for obtaining an abstract photograph.

What is abstract photography?

Author: Chema Madoz

There is no generally accepted definition of abstract photography. It is difficult to define something abstract, so we will be guided by some general principles and consider that:

Abstract photography is not a subject in its full form
It is not based on objects, but on shape, color and lines.

From this definition, a very important conclusion can be drawn: since the brain perceives shape and color, and not objects, logical thinking is involved to a lesser extent when perceiving such photographs. So abstract photography allows the eye to better see the composition of the picture, and if it is good, the photograph causes positive emotions in a person. Emotions are known to influence human behavior more than logic.

Thus, emphasizing form, color and lines, abstract photo evokes a reaction of the psyche, which is connected, among other things, with the human nervous system. For example, it is well known that the human nervous system reacts in one way or another to objects of a certain color and contrast.

It should be noted that the abstract photograph is not always something unrecognizable. Very often it is part of an object or place that is familiar to the viewer.

Why do we need abstract photography?

There are many other trends in photography that are no less attractive than abstract photography . And yet, in addition to the beauty of shapes and lines, abstract photographs are very convenient for a thinking photographer. For beautiful landscapes and exotic places, you need to travel and have funds for this, and an abstract shot can also be taken on the corner of your own house.

Author: Ciro Totku

Basic Principles

Since abstract photography is built on form, line and color, it requires the photographer to have a deep understanding of these aspects.

Shape

Any object in the reality surrounding the photographer can have an interesting shape. The form can serve as the basis for the composition. In general, it is the form that creates the composition of the image, and the lines and color complement it. So a good abstract photo must start with good form. You can find it in objects that are dynamic, pleasant, or simply interesting in shape. There are no criteria for choosing a form. However, if the form evoked emotion in the photographer and was compositionally balanced in the photograph, then it can evoke the same reaction in the viewer.

Color

Color often attracts a person's attention and excites his nervous system. In abstract photography, color can be made more saturated using a photo editor to achieve the best effect.

Contrast

Another way to create dynamic photos is to use contrast in them. A frame that is very simple in composition can only attract attention due to the contrast.

Lines

Lines always make abstract photography more interesting. They control the movement of the eye. There are several ways to use lines. The first of these is to direct the line to the visual center of the image (to the center where the interesting object is located). For example, in this photo, steps lead up to the visual center (a hill of three apples). These lines direct the viewer's eye to the semantic center of the image.

The second way to use lines is not to direct them to the visual center, but simply to draw them through the frame. Lines always force the eye to analyze the photo, and if there is no visual center, the eye can travel through the picture for a very long time. However, although it is acceptable to use this technique in abstract photography, it is better not to use it in classical photography, as it spoils the impression of the picture.

Composition

Abstract photography requires mandatory compliance with the rules of composition. In general, for a beginner or amateur photographer, this is one of the best ways to learn composition. The more interesting the composition, the more concise and better the abstract photo looks.

The fastest and most effective way to learn how to use the rules of composition is to sign up for good photography courses, for example, for photography courses at an online photography school, the most famous and authoritative in RuNet - Fotoshkola.net.

The ability to highlight the main thing

As mentioned above, an abstract photograph can evoke strong emotions. To enhance the impression, you need to learn how to choose some of the most interesting areas in what you see. Remember that the human eye can only perceive 5-6 image elements at a time.

An abstract photograph can be conceptual and carry some meaning:

Author: Chema Madoz

Abstract Street Photography: A Basic Guide

There is no single definition of abstract street photography, and this is a relief. That's why you can make a genre individually your own.

In this article, photographer Anthony Epes shares tips, tricks and ideas to help you capture abstract street photography.

In abstract photography, you remove the context of the object, so it's not always clear what the viewer is looking at. You are transforming the world to create your own objects, creating things that are not what they appear to be in real life.

"Photography is not about seeing, it's about feeling... If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you'll never make others feel anything when they look at your pictures."

Don McCullin

The concept of street photography is quite broad - it includes every imprint of humanity, every aspect of life, whether we see people or not.

Abstract street photography needs work

Sometimes people assume that because abstract street photography looks simple, it's easy to take these pictures and doesn't take much work to get a good result.

In abstract street photography there are no limits, no rules, nothing to strive for. Everything in your images is a reflection of what you see in the world.

This kind of photography is pure imagination because you create something out of almost nothing. It depends on your ability to see the world creatively, not realistically.

The most important skill to develop is being present in the moment you are filming. You can get too carried away thinking about how to shoot - are we in the right place, should we move more, should we change the lens? When you are fully immersed in the present moment, you will be able to use the experience to the fullest and perceive what is happening around you more fully.

For example, you will see a person going to work, he is a little depressed. You can “grab it out of space” and fix it. Being completely in the present moment, you are more likely to convey sensations from the surrounding reality.

Abstract street photography is your interpretation of the world

It is like the atmosphere of the moon.

Dark shadows make you think of a creepy story I read as a child.

Part of this poster looks like a delicate painting.

"I really feel sorry for people who think that things like soap dishes, mirrors or cola bottles are ugly because they are surrounded by such things all day long and that must make them miserable."

Robert Rauschenberg

The more curious a person is, the more he can see. And even more so it will be a "personal" photograph, "own" interpretation of the world.

Composition in abstract street photography

Still, it is very useful to use all the traditional rules and techniques of composition: negative space, leading lines and the rule of thirds. There are a few more tips that are especially useful when creating abstract street photos.

Reduction

Making a photograph is more about removing and reducing what is in the frame. It is very easy to create a complex background, include elements that distract from the subject. This is especially true of street photography - there is always a buzz in the city. We often don't notice all the visual information because the brain spends a lot of time blocking out most of it. The human brain can only handle a limited amount of information. But your camera notices everything! You may get unwanted elements or not see background complexity.

Ask yourself: what can I take away from this photo?

Textured glass is a stunning abstract element to play with that combines delicate beautiful colors, flowing light and interesting texture

Break the world into elements

to make beautiful, bright and thoughtful photographs with your eyes is to look at the world not as a homogeneous mass of things, but as a multitude of separate elements.

When you break the world down into elements, you see a set of shapes, lines, patterns, etc. , not all put together in a three-dimensional surround sound where everything is merged together.

Look around you now and try to see each thing as a separate, single element. This exercise will help you be mindful of what you put in the frame.

A celebration of the purity of light, shape and form

Shapes can be exciting just as shapes, not like anything else.

"The moment one pays close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, one becomes a mysterious, terrifying, indescribably magnificent world in itself" .

Henry Miller

What do you think the photo below is about?

Color

Ernst Haas said: “Color is joy. They don't think about joy. They carry her." Abstract street photography is an occasion to simply sing the power and joy of color.

Texture

The street is an invitation to explore many fascinating textures. Some of the favorite textures are crumbling walls, torn posters, and abandoned places in forgotten parts of cities. Texture capture gives the image a sense of realism, as if the viewer could just reach out and feel the roughness of the wall, the chill of the pipes, and the gnarled wood.

When you view the world as a collection of different textures, your photos take on more depth.

Abstract street photography ideas

Street art is one of the best things about this type of photography. Use your ideas as a starting point to move in your own direction.

Pareidolia

The Cambridge Dictionary describes pareidolia as "a situation in which one sees a pattern or image of something that does not exist, such as a face in a cloud."

Photographing pareidolia is fun; it's about finding things that are similar to other things. It is easiest to find faces or animals in completely unrelated objects.

Is that a crocodile? Or a smiling alien?

Reflections

Although reflections create naturally rich images, remember what you put in the frame so that the whole composition is pleasing, not just chaotic.

You might think this is a shot of the street, but at a second glance you can see that a lot of different things are happening in the reflection layers. Real life

Silhouettes and shadows

When we shoot silhouettes and shadows, especially people, we can capture some really amazing, pure expressions - because we don't have details.

This picture was taken by the photographer in Istanbul. Was it a morning greeting? Violent political debate?

Here the picture is already more abstract and has connected two shadows.

What objects? Who knows? What do they look like? It's up to your imagination.

Abstract self-portraits

When we shoot ourselves, we always have a certain subject, right? Visit places of interest and take self-portraits there using reflections, color and light. This will help you understand much more about photographing people. Since Anthony discovered Ernst Haas, the photographer has realized that anything can become an object.