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Author Topic: Daily Walk  (Read 89482 times)

RSL

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #540 on: June 03, 2020, 09:47:35 am »

Fair enough, Keith, and those are the ones John does that I like best. And I didn't compliment John on his May 31st trees. Should have. That's one I do like. So here's "bravo," John.
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #541 on: June 04, 2020, 03:37:32 pm »

You're right, Keith. That's true of all sorts of things. Interesting, though, that some photographs, poems, musical compositions, paintings, etc., appeal to huge numbers of people while others go thud. I find some of John's work very interesting, but at heart I believe an abstract image has to come from a paintbrush. A camera's far too objective, even when you wave it around during the exposure. All that does is show that you waved the camera around during exposure -- not exactly an abstract idea -- or result.
I agree Russ. But images that are non-representational but still identifiable, have to be called something. They may not be abstract in the traditional art sense, but I think they are still akin to being abstract. I would not consider most of my ICM images as abstracts but have to place them somewhere. They are certainly not realistic. It is very difficult to take "abstract" images that meet the traditional definition and still be good enough to interest people. And Russ, please don't stop critiquing even if you don't like my images. It is always interesting and sometimes enlightening to learn why people may like, or not like your images. Again thanks for the interest and comments.

What are these? Identifiable yes; but still abstract?



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RSL

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #542 on: June 04, 2020, 03:44:50 pm »

Well, I like both of these, John. And you're right. Neither is abstract.
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #543 on: June 04, 2020, 03:59:57 pm »

True enough, Russ, but I particularly liked the image, in part at least because it wasn't obviously a result of waving the camera around during the exposure.
Thanks Keith. I only wave the camera around when experimenting. When I want a certain look or think a subject may be worth experimenting on, I employ my experience to bring out the result I want. In most cases you really need to know what you are doing.

JR

Or you can get lucky, as in luck favours those who are prepared and try anyway.


« Last Edit: June 04, 2020, 07:21:11 pm by John R »
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #544 on: June 05, 2020, 11:23:47 pm »

Playful.

JR

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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #545 on: June 06, 2020, 02:08:04 pm »

Nice irises.
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #546 on: June 07, 2020, 02:24:29 pm »

Nice irises.
Thanks Eric. I think the irises need company.

JR

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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #547 on: June 07, 2020, 06:18:52 pm »

I can't identify those, so does that make it a true abstract?
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #548 on: June 07, 2020, 11:19:20 pm »

I can't identify those, so does that make it a true abstract?
In that case, let me continue the ambiguity.

JR

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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #549 on: June 08, 2020, 05:08:28 pm »

Got it: Luminous Doughnuts!
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #550 on: June 08, 2020, 07:48:12 pm »

We can't have trees making and promoting doughnuts in public parks. Very bad diet. So lets walk it all off. In style, of course.

JR



And you can turn back once you reach the haunted part of the forest.


« Last Edit: June 08, 2020, 08:04:13 pm by John R »
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #551 on: June 08, 2020, 11:42:03 pm »

Nice ghosts.
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RSL

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #552 on: June 09, 2020, 09:22:14 am »

+1
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Chris Kern

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #553 on: June 09, 2020, 03:29:41 pm »

. . . at heart I believe an abstract image has to come from a paintbrush. A camera's far too objective . . .

But images that are non-representational but still identifiable, have to be called something. They may not be abstract in the traditional art sense, but I think they are still akin to being abstract.

I think abstraction in photography must be thought of as having a different meaning than abstraction in painting for precisely the reason Russ Lewis states: a camera is an inherently literal tool for representing the world.  For me, to refer to an "abstract photograph" involves using abstract in the sense of the word that means summarizing something or extracting the essential part of it.  An abstract painting is unconstrained only by the artist's imagination and the fundamental properties of a two-dimensional space* while an abstract photograph, absent massive manipulation in post-processing, represents an attempt by the photographer to depict a real-world subject that actually appeared in front of the camera in a novel, not-entirely-literal way.

―――
*Of course, some painting media at least partially escape the boundaries of two dimensions: e.g., heavily-textured oil pigments.

John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #554 on: June 09, 2020, 10:27:39 pm »

I think abstraction in photography must be thought of as having a different meaning than abstraction in painting for precisely the reason Russ Lewis states: a camera is an inherently literal tool for representing the world.  For me, to refer to an "abstract photograph" involves using abstract in the sense of the word that means summarizing something or extracting the essential part of it.  An abstract painting is unconstrained only by the artist's imagination and the fundamental properties of a two-dimensional space* while an abstract photograph, absent massive manipulation in post-processing, represents an attempt by the photographer to depict a real-world subject that actually appeared in front of the camera in a novel, not-entirely-literal way.

―――
*Of course, some painting media at least partially escape the boundaries of two dimensions: e.g., heavily-textured oil pigments.
Thanks for the input Chris. I would like to point out, that although I agree with you and Russ, if you look all over the internet, "abstracts" is what most people are calling non-representational imagery. Many sites have a gallery called 'abstracts.' There are many abstract photography competitions. So you may win the definition battle, but the use of the term abstract for non-representational, non-literal imagery, is now ubiquitous in photographic circles.
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #555 on: June 09, 2020, 10:40:47 pm »

Same tree. Two different renditions.

JR



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Chris Kern

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #556 on: June 09, 2020, 10:49:15 pm »

Same tree. Two different renditions.

Both of these are very well-done, and "abstract" in precisely the way I define abstract photography: "an attempt by the photographer to depict a real-world subject that actually appeared in front of the camera in a novel, not-entirely-literal way."

Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #557 on: June 10, 2020, 10:11:59 am »

Both tree images are lovely abstracts to me. I think of "abstract" as a summary, focused narrowly on some "essence" of the subject, and photography does that very well. In-camera acrobatics like John's as well as post processing generally tries to emphasize some essence of the original scene (light, texture, form, etc.)
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RSL

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #558 on: June 10, 2020, 10:23:01 am »

I think abstraction in photography must be thought of as having a different meaning than abstraction in painting for precisely the reason Russ Lewis states: a camera is an inherently literal tool for representing the world.  For me, to refer to an "abstract photograph" involves using abstract in the sense of the word that means summarizing something or extracting the essential part of it.  An abstract painting is unconstrained only by the artist's imagination and the fundamental properties of a two-dimensional space* while an abstract photograph, absent massive manipulation in post-processing, represents an attempt by the photographer to depict a real-world subject that actually appeared in front of the camera in a novel, not-entirely-literal way.

Well said, Chris. And I agree that John's last two images fit the description.
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John R

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Re: Daily Walk
« Reply #559 on: June 10, 2020, 10:18:14 pm »

Thanks for the comments, Chris, Russ and Eric. One thing I like is that these discussions explain things in concentrated ways, so that people get a good sense of what abstracts are in photography.

JR
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