tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post8580405249834046074..comments2023-05-21T09:37:02.188+01:00Comments on Third Age Musings: Abstract or not?Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410318976755292700noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post-84550534968024013232009-06-16T08:18:24.682+01:002009-06-16T08:18:24.682+01:00hmm, interesting discussion here... I think both y...hmm, interesting discussion here... I think both your images are abstract, but then I think that's because of my view of the world, I like seeing the abstract in things, that's one of the aspects of photography I really love, but it is interesting to consider the actual definition of abstract. I'm afraid at this point I don't have much to add, but I'll have a think about it and maybe come back in a while with my thoughts. I really like both of these photos though! SSelina Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17399203508756675670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post-36647530657464427502009-06-13T22:23:37.207+01:002009-06-13T22:23:37.207+01:00Gilly left this comment on my flickr mail as she c...Gilly left this comment on my flickr mail as she couldn't log on here.<br />"Ooooh, this is a tricky one. Looking at your three definitions, I don't think any of them work to clearly define what 'abstract' is.<br /><br />Since photography by definition has to refer to material objects and can't be all in the mind, then this isn't really a useful way of looking at it.<br /><br />And, in a sense, all photography is abstracted if we use one of your other definitions: taken away from reality. Even the most representative of photos is two-dimensional, which is at least one step away from a 3-D reality. Of course, there is a continuum operating here - your 'ice and fire' image (which, incidentally, I think is wonderful) is quite far towards one end; the beads are slightly further up simply because it's easier to understand at a glance what they are, and a straight landscape image or street shot is as close as we're likely to get to realism. I think this definition also opens up all sorts of very awkward questions about what reality is!<br /><br />The remaining definition, the essence of the whole,could also be applied to a wide range of subject matter and various ways of portraying it. In a way, isn't that what all of us are trying to do - distill the essence of our subject matter? We do this by selecting what goes within the picture frame and what we leave out; what's in focus and what isn't. I'm not sure this one helps much either.<br /><br />How about an abstract image meaning one in which the subject matter can't be immediately identified? I'm sure there's lots wrong with this as well, but it seems a better starting point. Then you could place things on a continuum, with totally unidentifiable images at one end, moving towards easily identifiable ones at the other.<br /><br />It's an interesting question and, like all the best questions, probably one that can never be satisfactorily answered.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410318976755292700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post-78652134410018836132009-06-12T23:38:22.820+01:002009-06-12T23:38:22.820+01:00I really like the beads. I think the context may b...I really like the beads. I think the context may be a factor in deciding abstract v macro. Given the same magnification, if this shot had the beads around someone's neck then I would think macro but the coloured background takes it out of a regular context and makes it more of an abstract.Duncan Astburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02318752842141939176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post-19925235112157295262009-06-06T12:30:02.882+01:002009-06-06T12:30:02.882+01:00Likewise, it's good to know you are not just p...Likewise, it's good to know you are not just posting into the ether.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18410318976755292700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465266982839881097.post-29904913173646945822009-06-06T11:56:53.693+01:002009-06-06T11:56:53.693+01:00As you say it's difficult to say whether they ...As you say it's difficult to say whether they can be considered macro or abstract but I definitely think 'Ice and Fire' ticks all the boxes for an abstract. I didn't know what it was until I read the description.<br /><br />BTW thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. It is so nice when someone takes the time to leave some feedback.Susan Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01675158076115169720noreply@blogger.com