For a long time I have been drawn to images that have a soft-focus or even images that lack all focus. I also really love abstract art created by artist like Mondrian, Klee, Picasso and so on. The way abstract artist work with lines and forms to make an abstraction of realty is amazing. My admiration for these abstract artists has led me to try to create more abstract elements in my photographic work. But no matter how hard I try, I never seem to come to the next level with this ambition. Maybe this is because I don’t dare to leave my comfort zone to create abstract images, or maybe it’s because I lack the skills.
Soft focus
Part of my 52-weeks project is that I will take more toy photographs; I’m trying to do an image per day. I also publish at least one image a day on my blog, Facebook and Instagram.
I know that I’ve talked about my hang up with light, working with a backlit subject and how that directs me in this project. There is one side affect with my way of working and this is that I often miss focus, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. The camera and I have a different viewpoint of when the subject is in focus. The result of this missed focus is that I capture images that have very soft focus or totally lack all focus. This isn’t anything new.
As part of my 52-project “reflections of Leia” I have a done folder where I can gather the images that I have with soft focus. The other day I looked in this folder and to my surprise I see a new line of images that are more abstract than those that are in the 52-project. In this soft focus folder I see pictures where my toy goes from being a “classic Lego figure” to becoming closer to just an ordinary doll. My hope is that these abstract images will invite the viewer to interpret, participate and be active in completing the image. This is part of my vision for my photography; I want the viewer to be involved in the making of the image.
A more private project
A private part of my 52 projects is a more intimate project in which I try to reach my goal of creating more abstract toy images. I believe that one of the strengths of a 52 project is that they are a way to test ideas. Sometimes these ideas work, sometimes not. I will follow this sidetrack to see where it leads. Maybe it will lead to my goal of more abstract work, maybe not…
Hi Kristina,
I absolutely love your “Reflections of Leia” project. Each photo has been amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing how these photos progress over the course of the project.
Lynn
Thank you Lynn. I’m glad you say that because right now I going towards more and more soft focus… and the strange thing is that I kind of like the opposite as well, looking at my Leia images I see that you and your work with the death star has been a great inspiration.
I fully agree, Lynn! Wonderful Images!
🙂
Im finally getting around to reading (ok listening to) Susan Sontag’s On Photography. As I’m listing to her talk about photography and its relationship to the surrealists and the pictorialists, I can’t help but think about you, how you keep pushing the boundaries of your vision and of course this post. You really are creating amazing work.
oh, what a compliment! – I love the surrealists and see myself as a late blomming pictorialist 😉 Thank you Shelly.
Your soft focus images are stunning Kristina. Your technique would probably only work for certain subjects but I have one or two Lego pieces that would suit. (Actually, I probably have one or two hundred that would suit. hahaha. Not that I’m obsessive about Lego or anything!!) I might try your technique out just for something a bit different. I’m always trying to inject a bit of variety into my work. In the meantime I shall follow your IG account with interest.
I just started a mentorship on G+ that explores blues and unsharp photography. It certainly adds a new element to the process, and a lot more tools in the artistic toolbox.
That sounds like an awesome mentorship 🙂 I love unsharpness as a tool to work with
“Sometimes these ideas work, sometimes not.”
==> change your mind. It’s easy. It’s one mind who said “it doesn’t work”. But another mind in your head “want it”.
==> so, you must do something else with this idea. I try and it works. I change my filtering habits, I discolor, blur or darken, I search for all the possible digital effects, and there, unbelievable, finally arises “the” good image, from a jet that could be missed with my habits of visual thinking. And so i’m happy. ^^
Now, all what could be an error, become something nice after. Something I could not find with my other mind, who think “it’s an error, it doesn’t work”.