PHOTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTS

[Julian de'Courcy]

This type of Photography abstract and most painting abstracts are essentially two very different things. Where as these images below are a part of something, as in abstracting an element of a bigger picture, where as the Abstract painting which I enjoy are ''The'' abstract themselves and not from anything or a part of something bigger. Using elements such as shape, colour , balance, depth, composition, and scale, that is the abstract in it's own right and not being taken from anything. Rather a style/method which is used because the painter can get across what they wish to say in a way in a form they fine most useful to do so. Rothko an Abstract expressionist one of the masters of this along with of course Kandinsky.


My little effort at Abstract photography. All from the stream that crosses Pentewan beach prior to it running into the sea.

All done with Sigma Dp1 Merrill.


BEACH STREAM by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr


BEACH STREAM by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr


SLICE by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr



_P1M5223 by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr

 

[Rob MacKillop]

The first two are almost reptilian - wonderful. The last one - not sure what the scale is - could be fairly close, to a mile high. Lovely.

I get your point about abstracts of something versus abstracts in and of themselves. And I love Rothko's work.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

The first two are almost reptilian - wonderful. The last one - not sure what the scale is - could be fairly close, to a mile high. Lovely.

I get your point about abstracts of something versus abstracts in and of themselves. And I love Rothko's work.

Thanks Rob , I like reptilian did not occur to me, as I had what it is in my head all along which is water. They are therefore to be named Reptilian if you don't mind me nicking that title. Last one taken by my feet, the edge of a wide but shallow stream running across the beach. That would be the part of the bank which if you watch for a while crumbles away and bits plop into the water. Ever changing.
Yes Rothko I appreciate more and more the older I get, my understanding has certainly grown.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Be my guest!

 

[Pete Askew]

Great distinction between the two forms of art Julian. And, some superb examples of the photographic form. I especially like the last one. Superb uses of the light all round though. Lovely stuff.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Great distinction between the two forms of art Julian. And, some superb examples of the photographic form. I especially like the last one. Superb uses of the light all round though. Lovely stuff.

Thank you Pete appreciate the positives very much.

 

[Brian Moore]

These are excellent, Julian. For a long while now I have had some interest in the compositions of the great painters and how we as photographers might learn from them. The other day I was watching on You Tube a presentation given by the photographer Art Wolfe in which he was describing how his background in painting and his knowledge of the work of people such as Picasso and Pollock (two masters whose work Wolfe in fact admits was beyond his ability to appreciate when he was studying them in art school) now inform his photography in a very meaningful way. Here's the video.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

These are excellent, Julian. For a long while now I have had some interest in the compositions of the great painters and how we as photographers might learn from them. The other day I was watching on You Tube a presentation given by the photographer Art Wolfe in which he was describing how his background in painting and his knowledge of the work of people such as Picasso and Pollock (two masters whose work Wolfe in fact admits was beyond his ability to appreciate when he was studying them in art school) now inform his photography in a very meaningful way. Here's the video.

Thank you Brian. Watched most of the video. The one thing he said which is what I'd say is the most profound sentence, not his idea, I first came across it many many years ago myself as a quote I got from a documentary from from Picasso , he may well have got the quote from one else who knows. That he said is not to seek or search but to find, which is actually very obvious and to find is a whole different process to searching or seeking.
I'd certainly have thought that practice is easily transferable from painting to photography or any of the visual arts. Yet in my own eyes I'd say for that late 19th century and 20th century painting it is most obvious. Possible in movements such as pointillism, cubism expressionism and so on , more so in movements than in individual artists. Yet the profound thing between photography and that idea is that photography does have such a history with its strength of reproduction, , painting let go a long time ago certainly in Europe and America and was not used for such in many parts of the world, but then it is early in the life of photography. The idea to find is as apt in either painting or photography.

 

[Brian Moore]

That he said is not to seek or search but to find

And I wonder if that is much different really from the notion of being open to ideas in the photographic sense of allowing an image to form in your mind's eye without prior expectation and letting that image fire the motor neurons that cause your arms to lift your camera for the picture?

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

And I wonder if that is much different really from the notion of being open to ideas in the photographic sense of allowing an image to form in your mind's eye without prior expectation and letting that image fire the motor neurons that cause your arms to lift your camera for the picture?

I'd have thought very similar, it is also the idea to look at things without attachment, a state of mind that allows you to see other than what has been drummed into us, or our own built up perceptions and expectations. it's mostly practise . Just prior to opening this thread I did think that exact same thing with your posted image and probably aught to have mentioned it before. It is probably the one biggest reason I enjoy your images so much, is as here you have found a part of the scene and used it, the part you found works very well. It is much more subtle in many you produce but it is there, often in spades Not everyone can do that, lots of people do do it in photography , yet you do it particularly well.
As why I like it here on this forum as there are several members who produce some really good thoughtful images from what I see.

 

[Brian Moore]

Very kind of you, Julian. Thank you.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

This type of Photography abstract and most painting abstracts are essentially two very different things. Where as these images below are a part of something, as in abstracting an element of a bigger picture, where as the Abstract painting which I enjoy are ''The'' abstract themselves and not from anything or a part of something bigger. Using elements such as shape, colour , balance, depth, composition, and scale, that is the abstract in it's own right and not being taken from anything. Rather a style/method which is used because the painter can get across what they wish to say in a way in a form they fine most useful to do so. Rothko an Abstract expressionist one of the masters of this along with of course Kandinsky.


My little effort at Abstract photography. All from the stream that crosses Pentewan beach prior to it running into the sea.

All done with Sigma Dp1 Merrill.


BEACH STREAM by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr


BEACH STREAM by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr


SLICE by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr



_P1M5223 by Julian de Courcy, on Flickr

As they are abstracts, there is not much concrete I can say but, they are in their own way beautiful with colours that calm me. A wonderful effect on me.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

As they are abstracts, there is not much concrete I can say but, they are in their own way beautiful with colours that calm me. A wonderful effect on me.

Glad to hear Ivar. Thank you.