Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Elsa Kawai: My Abstract World

Mundane objects around us are full of potential abstract beauty -- it is just a matter of noticing it.

In the tutorial below, I would like to share with you how I look at everyday objects and turn them into abstract photographs:
 
1. Pick a subject: There is no criteria for this other than pick something that draws your attention.  
 
2. Step Close: Go closer to the subject and look at it again. Pay attention to the details: lines, colors, textures etc.

3. Discover all angles: Be patient and look at it from different angles - up close and from a distance; move around it -- look at it from a low angle, from the top, tilt your camera, and snap a few photos.

4: Establish the mood: Once you discover the angle and idea behind the subject, think about the mood. Would it work best in color or black and white? 
 
When I looked up at the building (see photo below), I was struck by the sense of infinity -- the building merging into the infinite sky. So I chose to photograph this in black and white, which created an impression of the building blending into the sky. Notice the steps I took to create this photograph:
 
 
 
I would like to stress: do not stick to a regular point of view. You will be surprised by what you can discover each time you look at something from a fresh angle -- so seek to look down, look up, twist your body, tilt your head -- be careful and have fun discovering the wonderful world of abstract photography.
 
Here are a few more of my discoveries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here are some thumbnails -- makes a pretty abstract composite! You can see these larger on my website: Elsa Kawai.
 
 
Enjoy!  And don't forget to share some of your abstract photos in the comments section below.
 
- Elsa
 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

very nice work,i do much the same when i photograph.i try to imagine the shot before i take it. it has a way of creating something different to the eye.

                                          paul