to me it is better if you don't try to explain, let people imagination run wild. if you don't explain, for viewer will come down to 2 options: like it or not. from the lot, i don't like no.2 and no.7.
on another note, abstract can be explained in two ways:
1. the way you explain it - this is a reflection of the sky
2. an abstract explanation for an abstract image: this is the thought of a golden fish meditating at the future of a supersonic airplane
Thanks Rog. I almost never get "don't like", but that can be the most valuable of all feedback. I really appreciate when people are willing to speak up that way!
My favorites are 2 and 4. Love abstract art. Some of my friends think I'm just trying to be hip, different, or foolish when I say my favorite painter is Mark Rothko. I'm as serious as a kidney transplant (which one of my friends who doesn't like Rothko just got).
So... my totally pointless opinions are forthcoming. Sorry!
1. I like it. Of the bunch, this is the most attractive to me. And it seems to be distorted far enough from the original photo to feel like true abstraction.
2. Meh. Not bad, but it doesn't grab me. Definitely into the realm of abstraction in my mind.
3. My first reaction is that this isn't abstract at all. It's a photo of a lake or river, taken from a drone or on a hillside above it, with the sky reflected in the water. Not really my thing. Sorry.
4. This is abstract but feels almost like collage. I see trees (I think), but I am not sure about the rest. Not my style, but OK.
5. A photo of grass, right? Though an interesting photo for texture and pattern, I don't think of it as abstract. Nice, though.
6. Another one that doesn't qualify as abstract to my far-too-literal mind. This is just a rotated image, correct? I like it, but the rotation is distracting in this case.
7. Snowscape and sky, I believe. Harder to tell because of the black & white nature of the image. Is it abstract, though? Not sure. I like it, but less than #1.
8. Snake in the water? If so, not abstract according to me. ;) Interesting, but not so much my thing.
9. This one tells a story. I don't know what the story is, but there is something going on here that I definitely do not understand. Is it abstract in the technical sense? Maybe. But regardless, it makes me wonder about what was happening or how the image(s) was (were) manipulated (or combined). I still prefer #1, but this one gives me the longest pause to wonder what was really taking place.
Am I overthinking all of this? Yes, yes, I am. But that's me.
#4 is frozen water along the creek. I'm not certain how it was formed, but I think there would be small waves that would freeze, then calm, then small waves to make the next "vein", then calm, and it built up over time. It's a theory, only. But I thought it was cool, so I made an image.
I like the textures of 4 and the way the rotated bird in number 6 resembles a skull is quite clever.
Not so keen on the in camera movement ones (1 and 2) I'm afraid, there seems to be a lot of that around and it's hard to get something that really works well .
Great post Donn, thanks for pushing the old brain-box for us.🙂
It wasn’t very clear for me if the plates presented were photos or paintings.I had to read your post twice just to make sure. I know that sounds dumb, but hey, I haven’t had my coffee yet. Clearly pictures, I got it, but maybe it’s a bit unfair to be presented together, as you can’t help but compare them.
1 and 2 seem pretty abstract to me but don’t tell me much, although , sometimes just the colors can do the trick;
3 and 4, I like them both- a reflection of the sky and something else I can’t decipher but again, the color strikes again: I love blue;
5 very nice picture of the grass, I like it but not that abstract for me;
6 clever way of playing with a reflection, I like it. Abstract? not so much;
7 looks like a bad picture that we usually toss in the bin
8. Seems too much common
9. I love the collage or whatever it is. Abstract or not, I don’t care .
Thanks Simona, I appreciate all the attention you gave to this! All the things you like and don’t like are part of what gets me curious about what resonates, including (maybe especially!) things that should be tossed in the bin. FWIW the last one is not a collage, all of these looked similar in-camera to the finished result. It’s half reflection (legs on chrome) and half the view through windows.
So definitely in the "sometimes" column as well (so much for anonymous) but did want to say that for the exception of the first 2 pictures, I really liked all the photos you showcased. The ONLY reason I'm not huge on the first 2 is because I keep imagining them as blur shots.
Thanks Ian! It's funny, there are definitely (at least) two camps. Some who _only_ like the first two, and others who like them the least. I enjoy discovering things like that, so thanks for weighing in and the encouragement, both.
to me it is better if you don't try to explain, let people imagination run wild. if you don't explain, for viewer will come down to 2 options: like it or not. from the lot, i don't like no.2 and no.7.
on another note, abstract can be explained in two ways:
1. the way you explain it - this is a reflection of the sky
2. an abstract explanation for an abstract image: this is the thought of a golden fish meditating at the future of a supersonic airplane
I think I agree with you, on reflection. No pun intended!
I changed it, for people who are not subscribers at least!
I really like no. 5 and 8!
Thank you Susanne, much appreciated!
My carrier pigeon hasn't returned from its previous mission. I liked 3 and 4.
That is so very sad!!!! My thoughts and prayers... And thank you for the feedback, greatly appreciated.
I love 4 Donn
Thanks Shital, and thanks for playing!
5 and 2
Thanks Nancy!
3 4 5 9 are my favs. I’m interested in seeing more! 😃
Thanks, and I'm glad you like them! I've been adding to the library here and there...
I can only tell you the one's I don't really like. Plates 2 and 7
Thanks Rog. I almost never get "don't like", but that can be the most valuable of all feedback. I really appreciate when people are willing to speak up that way!
My favorites are 2 and 4. Love abstract art. Some of my friends think I'm just trying to be hip, different, or foolish when I say my favorite painter is Mark Rothko. I'm as serious as a kidney transplant (which one of my friends who doesn't like Rothko just got).
"Do not try. Do."
Thanks Alex! I like him too.
#4 is my favorite.
Thanks Susanne!
So... my totally pointless opinions are forthcoming. Sorry!
1. I like it. Of the bunch, this is the most attractive to me. And it seems to be distorted far enough from the original photo to feel like true abstraction.
2. Meh. Not bad, but it doesn't grab me. Definitely into the realm of abstraction in my mind.
3. My first reaction is that this isn't abstract at all. It's a photo of a lake or river, taken from a drone or on a hillside above it, with the sky reflected in the water. Not really my thing. Sorry.
4. This is abstract but feels almost like collage. I see trees (I think), but I am not sure about the rest. Not my style, but OK.
5. A photo of grass, right? Though an interesting photo for texture and pattern, I don't think of it as abstract. Nice, though.
6. Another one that doesn't qualify as abstract to my far-too-literal mind. This is just a rotated image, correct? I like it, but the rotation is distracting in this case.
7. Snowscape and sky, I believe. Harder to tell because of the black & white nature of the image. Is it abstract, though? Not sure. I like it, but less than #1.
8. Snake in the water? If so, not abstract according to me. ;) Interesting, but not so much my thing.
9. This one tells a story. I don't know what the story is, but there is something going on here that I definitely do not understand. Is it abstract in the technical sense? Maybe. But regardless, it makes me wonder about what was happening or how the image(s) was (were) manipulated (or combined). I still prefer #1, but this one gives me the longest pause to wonder what was really taking place.
Am I overthinking all of this? Yes, yes, I am. But that's me.
Again, sorry!
Thanks for sharing. This was fun!
LOVE IT!!!! Love, love, love your feedback!
#4 is frozen water along the creek. I'm not certain how it was formed, but I think there would be small waves that would freeze, then calm, then small waves to make the next "vein", then calm, and it built up over time. It's a theory, only. But I thought it was cool, so I made an image.
Interesting. Not at all what I would expect for #4. It is cool, no matter how it formed! Thanks for letting me know!
I like them all. I find each one interesting in its own way.
Thanks Mark, and thanks for weight in!
4 and 6 for me.
I like the textures of 4 and the way the rotated bird in number 6 resembles a skull is quite clever.
Not so keen on the in camera movement ones (1 and 2) I'm afraid, there seems to be a lot of that around and it's hard to get something that really works well .
Great post Donn, thanks for pushing the old brain-box for us.🙂
Thanks for playing and giving such a detailed response!
fwiw the first image is not the camera moving, it’s the surface of water, and a reflection. But either way, the impact is what I was curious about 😊
I should have phrased that "the one's I like the least". All of them have some interest and are cool; those were the least cool for me
Oh cmon now, I was all excited about how you didn’t soften it!!! 😊
It wasn’t very clear for me if the plates presented were photos or paintings.I had to read your post twice just to make sure. I know that sounds dumb, but hey, I haven’t had my coffee yet. Clearly pictures, I got it, but maybe it’s a bit unfair to be presented together, as you can’t help but compare them.
1 and 2 seem pretty abstract to me but don’t tell me much, although , sometimes just the colors can do the trick;
3 and 4, I like them both- a reflection of the sky and something else I can’t decipher but again, the color strikes again: I love blue;
5 very nice picture of the grass, I like it but not that abstract for me;
6 clever way of playing with a reflection, I like it. Abstract? not so much;
7 looks like a bad picture that we usually toss in the bin
8. Seems too much common
9. I love the collage or whatever it is. Abstract or not, I don’t care .
Now, back to my coffee.
Thanks Simona, I appreciate all the attention you gave to this! All the things you like and don’t like are part of what gets me curious about what resonates, including (maybe especially!) things that should be tossed in the bin. FWIW the last one is not a collage, all of these looked similar in-camera to the finished result. It’s half reflection (legs on chrome) and half the view through windows.
And welcome to my Substack!
So definitely in the "sometimes" column as well (so much for anonymous) but did want to say that for the exception of the first 2 pictures, I really liked all the photos you showcased. The ONLY reason I'm not huge on the first 2 is because I keep imagining them as blur shots.
Keep doing what you're doing!
Thanks Ian! It's funny, there are definitely (at least) two camps. Some who _only_ like the first two, and others who like them the least. I enjoy discovering things like that, so thanks for weighing in and the encouragement, both.