We invest a lot of energy in making our photos clear and easy to understand. So it can seem strange to consider making them abstract and even confusing. But making our viewers think hard as they look for meaning can bring a whole new depth to our work. And sometimes a photo is beautiful in itself, without having to be anything.

What Is Abstract Photography?

Abstract photography takes the idea of “painting with light” quite literally. It creates light pictures that are different from almost every other photography genre.

Like abstract painting or sculpture, the aim isn’t to reproduce accurate representations of things we see. Instead, beauty and meaning are the aim. It is both liberating and challenging. The good news is you don’t need much more than a basic camera or phone and your own creativity and imagination.

Getting Started With Abstract Photography

Armed with your camera, it is time to get out there and try some abstract photography. We’ve put together a bunch of ideas for you to try.

Soap Bubbles

Soap bubble photography is a fun and creative way to capture stunning images. To get started, mix a few drops of glycerin with liquid soap and water to create a longer-lasting bubble solution. Set up a simple desktop studio with a black background, tripod, and light source.

Use a macro lens or telephoto lens to get close-up shots of the bubbles. Stabilize your camera on a tripod and use a remote or self-timer to avoid camera shake. Use a small aperture between f/11 and f/16 for a deep depth of field, and adjust your shutter speed and ISO based on your lighting.

Experiment with different lighting angles to create shadows and dimension in your images. Use Burst mode to capture multiple shots as the bubbles form and pop. With patience and practice, you can create endlessly surprising results.

Our detailed guide to bubble photography will tell you everything you need to know about this fun idea.

Crystal Balls

Crystal ball photography is a creative way to capture unique perspectives in your images. To get started, you’ll need a crystal ball, camera, wide-angle lens, and tripod. A crystal ball holder or bottle top can help keep the ball still.

When choosing a subject, make sure it fills the frame with a wide-angle lens. Landscapes, architecture, and portraits all work well. For the best composition, find a natural divot or elevated surface to place the ball.

Pay attention to the background to enhance your crystal ball photography. Use leading lines or blur the background with a large aperture. With the right lighting and aperture settings, you can create stunning images.

Crystal ball photography is a fun way to add creativity to your work, and our full-length article has everything you need to know about it.

Filters and Prisms

Fractal photography is a unique way to create stunning images using special filters. These filters are made of glass and use refraction to bend light in interesting ways. Each filter has a different cut that produces effects like kaleidoscopes, double exposures, and rainbows.

To use a fractal filter, hold it in front of your camera lens and experiment with different angles. Focus on the subject within the filter, not the background. A kit lens or macro lens with a focal length between 40 and 100mm and an aperture around f/4.

Fractal filters aren’t the only way to use refraction creatively. You can also try using a regular prism, a lensball, or even glass objects like wine glasses as a lens. With some experimentation, you can create unique and eye-catching photos.

If you’d like to learn more about fractal photography, check out our full-length article.

How to Choose and Use Specialist Equipment

Even though you can get great abstract photography photos without specialist equipment, there are some bits of gear that can take your work to a new level.

The Fisheye Lens

Fisheye lenses are unique tools that produce extreme wide-angle images with distortions that curve straight lines. They have a 180-degree field of view, creating a hemispherical perspective.

Fisheye lenses are great for capturing wide panoramic views of landscapes and the night sky. They’re also useful for emphasizing the height of buildings and monuments in urban environments. When photographing people or animals up close, fisheye lenses can create funny, exaggerated proportions.

One drawback of fisheye lenses is the inability to use standard filters due to the bulging front element. However, you can learn more about fisheye lens photography and techniques to work around this limitation.

Freelensing

Freelensing is a technique that involves detaching the lens from the camera mount to create a tilt-shift effect. This alters the plane of focus, allowing you to blur specific areas regardless of their position in the frame.

To freelens, use an interchangeable lens camera and a lens with a manual aperture ring. Twist and slightly detach the lens from the mount, then tilt it to change the focus area. Use manual settings and focus before detaching the lens.

Freelensing can introduce light leaks and dust spots on the sensor, so be careful when using this technique. If you want to learn more about freelensing, we have a detailed guide that covers everything you need to know.

Using a Projector

Projector photography involves projecting images onto subjects or objects for creative effects. To get started, you’ll need a projector with at least 3,500 lumens brightness and a small size for easy placement.

When choosing photos to project, look for images with negative space to place your subject. Patterns and open landscapes work well. Set up the projector in a dark room, adjust the focus and keystone, then connect your computer via HDMI.

Use a wide aperture, high ISO, and shutter speeds between 1/60th to 1/100th second for proper exposure. Stand behind the projector or at an angle to avoid casting shadows. Experiment with long exposures, unique backdrops, and editing for vivid colors.

Our full-length article has everything you need to know about projector photography.

Slow-Sync Flash

Slow-sync flash is a creative technique for capturing photos in low light. It involves using a slower shutter speed while firing your flash, allowing you to freeze motion while also capturing ambient light trails.

To use slow-sync flash, set your camera to a slower shutter speed, like 1/8th of a second. Then, choose either first-curtain sync (flash fires at the beginning of the exposure) or second-curtain sync (flash fires at the end). First-curtain sync can make light trails appear in front of your subject, while second-curtain sync will place them behind.

Experiment with different shutter speeds and flash timing to create unique effects. You can also try moving your camera during the exposure for abstract light trails. Slow-sync flash takes some practice, but it’s a fun way to get creative with flash photography.

More Abstract Photography Ideas to Try

The beauty of abstract photography is that you can introduce elements of it into more conventional images. Continue reading for ideas on how to do exactly this.

Lens Flare

Lens flare photography is a technique that captures the unique effect of light hitting the lens directly. This creates reflections inside the lens, resulting in distinct orbs or polygonal shapes in the image. The size and appearance of the flare depend on the angle of the light and the number of aperture blades in the lens.

To achieve lens flare, shoot directly into the sun during sunrise or sunset when the light is less harsh. Angle your lens so the sun is 35 to 75 degrees behind your subject for the best effect. You can also create flare indoors using artificial light sources like a flash.

Experiment with different aperture settings to change the look of the flare. A wide aperture will produce smooth, circular orbs, while a narrow aperture will result in smaller, more defined shapes. If you want to learn more about lens flare photography, check out our full-length article.

Photoelasticity

Photoelasticity is a fun and easy photography project that can boost your creativity. All you need are some clear plastic objects, a polarizing filter, and a source of polarized light like an LCD screen.

To set it up, place the plastic object on your screen and photograph it with the polarizing filter. Any camera will work, even a smartphone. Focus manually and use the widest aperture for a shallow depth of field to blur the screen pixels.

Experiment with different clear plastic objects like glasses, straws, cutlery, and food packaging to find interesting stress patterns. Combine objects and use photoelasticity creatively, like making a composite image or capturing unique shapes.

Check out our full-length article for everything you need to know about photoelasticity.

Visual Metaphor

Visual metaphors are a powerful way to add depth and meaning to your photos. By using everyday objects to represent ideas and emotions, you can create images that resonate with viewers on a deeper level.

One simple way to create a visual metaphor is by using symmetry to convey a sense of peace or balance. Natural reflections and symmetrical backgrounds are great for this. Props like paper butterflies or confetti can symbolize freedom and joy, while mirrors can represent self-reflection.

Elements of nature, like flowers, often suggest growth and spirituality in an image. Stairs can metaphorically represent a challenging or hopeful journey, depending on the subject’s placement and direction.

Merging two contrasting photos, such as a silhouette with a landscape, can also make a striking visual metaphor. With a little creativity, you can find metaphorical potential in the ordinary objects around you.

To learn more about using metaphor in photography, check out our in-depth article.

Some Different Abstract Photography Niches

Although abstract photos are, well, abstract, the principles can be applied to more concrete photography niches. Urban photography or landscapes can all offer opportunities to find abstract beauty.

Minimalist

Minimalist photography is about capturing simple yet compelling images. Use negative space to emphasize your subject and create a sense of simplicity. Clean lines and shapes can also make bold statements while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic.

Symmetry is another powerful tool in minimalist photography. Placing your subject in the center of the frame along a dividing line can create harmony and balance. Patterns and textures can also become subjects themselves when used as frame-filling elements or repeating patterns.

Color contrast and complementary colors are key to making your minimalist photos stand out. Black-and-white photography is also incredibly effective for stripping an image down to its bare essentials.

With minimalist photography, you can tell a story using just a few elements. Studying minimalism in other art forms can help deepen your understanding of the style. Minimalist photography is a growing trend that offers a refreshing escape from the clutter of modern life.

Our full-length article on minimalist photography has everything you need to know.

Landscape

Abstract landscape photography pushes the boundaries of traditional landscape photography. It involves capturing the environment in a way that emphasizes shapes, textures, colors, and patterns. This can create images that are visually intriguing and sometimes disorienting.

There are many techniques you can use to create abstract landscape photos. Try an aerial perspective with a drone to flatten the environment into a 2D canvas. Use camera movement during a long exposure to add a sense of energy and physicality to the image.

Converting to black and white can also be effective, as it removes distractions and allows the interplay of light and shadow to take center stage. Experimenting with shallow depth of field, minimalist composition, and photographing through glass can also yield interesting abstract results.

Check out our full-length article to learn more about abstract landscape photography.

Aerial Landscape

Aerial photography offers a unique perspective on the landscape. By capturing scenes from above, you can create abstract images that play with our understanding of the environment.

One way to find potential locations is by using Google Earth. This tool provides a top-down view of the Earth, allowing you to explore and gain inspiration. Keep in mind that factors like season and weather can change the landscape.

Drones are a great option for aerial photography due to their flexibility. They can fly close to uneven ground or just above the tree line, capturing dynamic images without the need for a dedicated runway.

You’ll find plenty of ideas and more about aerial landscape photography in our full-length article.

Nature

Abstract nature photography is a unique way to capture the world around us. By focusing on elements like line, texture, shape, and color, you can create images that speak to the senses.

One technique is to use intentional camera movement during a long exposure. This creates a painterly effect that emphasizes the photographer’s process as well as the quality of the subject. Another approach is to photograph reflections on water surfaces, taking advantage of the fluid nature of water to create surreal images.

Close-up or macro photography is also effective for abstract nature shots. By removing a sense of scale and relying on compositional elements, you can create images that draw the viewer in and make them aware of their own space within the photograph.

Take a look at our guide if you’d like to learn more about abstract nature photography.

Macro

Abstract macro photography is a creative way to capture everyday objects in a unique and eye-catching manner. By focusing on patterns, colors, and textures, you can create stunning images that leave viewers captivated. To get started, try experimenting with different household items like fabric, glass, or even food.

Lighting is key in abstract macro photography. Use a flashlight or LED light to illuminate your subject from various angles, highlighting interesting details and casting shadows. You can also use colored gels to add a pop of color to your shots.

Composition is another important aspect to consider. Play around with different angles and perspectives to find the most visually appealing arrangement. Filling the frame with your subject can create a powerful impact.

For more tips and techniques on abstract macro photography, be sure to explore our in-depth guide.

Portrait

Faceless portrait photography is a unique way to capture emotions and tell stories without relying on facial expressions. By focusing on other elements like hands, posture, and hair, you can create compelling images that stand out.

Faceless portraits allow you to explore many sub-genres of photography. Try outdoor shots for an anonymous street photography feel, underwater portraits emphasizing movement, or macro closeups of body parts. Experimenting with these styles can reignite your passion for photography and improve your skills across multiple genres simultaneously.

Without the distraction of faces, faceless portraits draw attention to subtle details like clothing textures and body language. They also encourage you to appreciate your surroundings and find creative opportunities in unexpected places. Faceless portrait photography is a powerful way to tell relatable stories, showcase your favorite things, and express yourself without worrying about face lighting or insecurities.

Check out our in-depth article for everything you need to know about faceless portrait photography.

Editing Abstract Photography

Sometimes a picture can be made abstract by editing. And sometimes it might not be certain if the image is abstract or surreal. It doesn’t really matter as long as it serves the purpose of being an engaging, pleasing photograph.

Abstract Editing

Creating abstract portraits in Photoshop is a simple process. Start by opening your portrait and texture images in Photoshop. Adjust the texture layer’s blending mode to get the desired effect, such as Multiply, Screen, Overlay, or Soft Light.

Use adjustment layers like Curves or Levels to color-correct the textures and blend them seamlessly with the portrait. Convert the image to black and white if desired, or add a vintage or futuristic feel using color adjustments. Refine the composition by transforming, blurring, or masking textures as needed.

Sharpen specific details like eyes, hair, or skin using the High Pass filter to make them stand out. By experimenting with different textures and adjustments, you can create stunning and surreal abstract portraits that showcase your creativity and Photoshop skills.

Check out our full-length article for everything you need to know about making abstract portraits in Photoshop.

Surreal Photography

Surreal photography challenges admirers to change their perspectives and question their values. This unique genre has inspired photographers to recreate their wildest dreams, breaking the shackles of a stale imagination and redefining the possibilities of photography.

Surrealist photographers use various techniques to subvert the world we perceive as real. They employ forced perspective, double exposure, and post-production editing to create images that blur the lines between reality and fantasy.

Modern technology has opened up even more opportunities for creating surreal photographs. From underwater portraits to distorted landscapes, surreal photography continues to captivate and inspire. We have gathered together some examples of surreal photography examples and ideas for you to explore.

Be sure to check out our full list of great surreal photography examples.

What Is Kirlian Photography?

Kirlian photography, also known as aura photography, captures eerie images surrounded by vibrant light. Discovered in 1939 by Semyon and Valentina Kirlian, it involves using a photographic plate and a high-voltage source to create electric coronal discharges around an object. The air becomes electrically charged, surrounding the subject with an aura-like appearance.

While some claim Kirlian photography can help understand a person’s physical or mental state, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support this. The paranormal side of Kirlian photography has led to controversy, with some believing the electricity intensifies the aura of a living being, while others attribute it to science.

Kirlian photography provides a unique opportunity to experiment with a new genre, featuring silhouettes and appealing colors. Whether you believe in auras or not, it showcases the importance of curiosity and innovation in photography.

Take a look at our full article if you’d like to learn more about Kirlian photography.

Inspirational Abstract Photography

Abstract photography is a captivating genre that focuses on shape, form, color, texture, and light. These elements are the main focus of the image rather than a means to an end. The photographs often perplex and mesmerize viewers in equal measure.

One way to create abstract photos is by getting close to your subject. This reveals intricate details and generates a sense of intimacy. Architecture and industrial sites are also great subjects for abstract photography due to their variety of colors, shapes, and textures.

Experimenting with different techniques can yield interesting results. Introducing camera movement during a long exposure creates painterly effects. Using water as a reflective surface can reinforce or completely change the subject matter. Macro photography makes details shine and reveals complex, eye-catching scenes.

These examples of abstract photography demonstrate the limitless possibilities of this genre.

25 Beautiful Examples of Abstract Photography to Inspire You

One of the beauties of digital photography is that you can experiment at no cost. In the past, you might hesitate to “waste” a negative and print an abstract photo that doesn’t “work.” But now we can experiment and immediately see if it works.
So, here are some super-cool abstract photos to inspire you to create your own!

1. Focus on Shape

The muted colors of this wall create an organic tone. With the sharp angles of the structure, it creates an intricate juxtaposition effect.
The viewer has no way of knowing what the structure is. But it doesn’t matter. The image is pleasing in itself. The photographer isolated these components to produce an aesthetic result.

2. Line

Line is a fundamental part of composition in photography. It’s a great way to add depth to your photographs. The lines interrupt the gradual change in the light, providing contrast and interest.
When we “read” an image, our eyes naturally follow lines. We can use this to our advantage in abstract photos, leading the viewer on a journey across the page.

3. Focus On Bright Colors

Turn your lens to focus on bright colors. This is a fun way to create dynamic abstract photography. You’ll find bright colors in all sorts of places, from market stalls to nature.

4. Nature

The complexity of organic life is both astounding and diverse. That’s why it makes such a good subject matter for abstract photography.
The lines of these trees reaching up to the sky draw the viewer’s eye to the center of the frame.

5. Texture

How do you think this image feels to the touch? Soft? Rough?
Often, abstract photography is about playing with our senses. And in this way, you bring a photograph to life.
You add a new dimension to a photograph through the idea of how an abstract subject could or would feel.

6. Repetition

The points meet, the dots line up, and the shapes transform. There’s something innately satisfying about viewing a well-executed pattern.
Repetition and patterns in photography can be used to fill a frame with patterns. Or you can use it to highlight irregularities. In this photo, the shapes decorate the image perfectly.
Although you can’t define the source, the effect is one of satisfaction and intrigue.

7. Camera Movement

Camera shake can be the bane of many photographers’ existence. But the deliberate introduction of movement into an image can create intriguing, painterly effects.
Abstract photography embraces experimentation. Don’t be weighed down by the need to take the “perfect” image.
Try introducing some movement into your images. You can do this by panning or sweeping your camera up and down during a long exposure.

8. Getting Close

When we encounter something of interest, our natural instinct is to physically move closer for a better look. Photography is often the same.
The closer you get, the more detail you reveal. Getting in for a closer shot also generates a sense of importance or intimacy in a photograph.

9. Industrial Subjects

Industrial sites are great for taking abstract photography. The variety of colors, shapes, and textures means that, for an abstract enthusiast, industrial sites are heaven on earth.
But industrial sites can be dangerous. And it’s important you get permission before you enter industrial premises. For more on urban exploration, check out our complete guide to urbex.
Other sites that are easier to access for industrial photography include train museums, parking lots, historic sites, and repurposed buildings.

10. Architecture

Architecture is a popular subject for abstract photography.
One of the great things about architectural photography is that it’s easily accessible. And it provides photographers the opportunity to explore form and shape in abstraction.

11. Soft Color

We had a look at using bright colors above. But soft colors lend their own unique feel to an abstract photograph.
Softer colors tend to warm or cool a photograph without overpowering it, giving the subject room to breathe.
The muted palette in this image accentuates the flowing lines of the subject, giving it the effect of a veil.
They may not jump out at you the same way brighter colors do. But soft hues are well worth incorporating into your abstract photography.

12. Black and White

Color photography is beautiful, but sometimes it can be a distraction. Yes, it’s the mainstream of modern photography. But many photographers still choose to shoot or process in black and white.
By removing color, we can cut down on intrusions. Viewers won’t get distracted by the warmth that reds provide or the cold feel of blues.
A black-and-white color scheme also illuminates the subtle tonal differences within the image. This emphasizes form and shape.

13. Water

Water is both a reflective and a changeable surface. You can use it to reinforce subject matter through reflection. Or you can change it up completely with movement.
In this image, the lines reflected in the water’s surface are disrupted. They take on the form of waves, creating an image with an otherworldly atmosphere.

14. Minimalism

Minimalism in visual arts means stripping back the form to geometric abstraction. It’s no wonder minimalist and abstract photography often overlap.
Minimalism is about what you leave out of an image rather than what you keep in. Seek out color, strong shapes, and bold lines. Use these to create an effective minimalist abstract photograph like the one below.

15. Light Trails

All photography relies on light. But abstract photography means you can experiment with the concept more than usual.
You can make light trails with long exposure and a bright light source. Make use of painterly gestures to create a photograph, and then you’re literally painting with light!

16. Star Trails

This long exposure was taken to reveal these star trails and record each star’s movement.
The resulting image is abstract, speaking to the nature of time and space itself.

17. Reflective Surfaces

Using reflective surfaces is a simple way to get into abstract photography. Each movement can create a whole new scene to photograph.
Photographing reflective surfaces doesn’t mean you have to stick to mirrors, either. Experiment with reflective textures like foil or puddles to create an interesting perspective.

18. Macro

Macro photography is becoming more and more accessible. From insects to flowers to jewelry, close-up photography can make the details in a subject shine.
Go even closer, and you get fantastic abstract images. These are complex and eye-catching. And they reveal details the naked eye can barely see.

19. Urban

The urban landscape is evolving. Its colors, forms, textures, light, and life form fascinating photographic opportunities.
But urban landscape photography doesn’t have to be about city skylines and streetscapes.
Photographing the details that make up the urban environment documents its history. And it creates insightful photographic images.

20. Bokeh

Bokeh is a great way to create abstract, creative images. The term bokeh comes from the Japanese word “boke,” which means “haze” or “blur.”
If you want to create a bokeh effect like the one in this image, check out our full guide on how to create a bokeh effect.

21. High-Key

Photography and light go hand in hand, but high-key images take it one step further. High-key images create a clean, airy atmosphere.
Some darker tones are necessary for an image to be discernible. But high-key photographers seek to whittle down a subject to its bare bones. This floods it with light and eliminates as much shadow as possible.

22. Low-Key

On the opposite end of the scale, low-key photographs are dark and dramatic. They convey an atmosphere of tension or intimacy.
Low-key images are made up of shadows with sparse highlights and high contrast.
They enhance form by erasing superfluous detail. This gives the reader a sense of unease by appealing to our innate instincts.

23. Look Up

It’s easy to get into the habit of looking straight ahead and missing what’s going on above us.
Tilt your head back and assess the surroundings. This can provide a unique and abstract perspective. Especially because most people don’t look up!

24. Look Down

Have you ever looked out of a plane window and wondered about the scene below? Aerial shots make for fascinating abstract landscape photography.
When taken from a high vantage point, the scene below becomes flattened. This transforms it into a canvas of abstract shape and color.
Grab a drone with a camera, and you’ll be able to achieve some really interesting results.

25. Use a Slow Shutter Speed

Light trails, blurred motion, and movement collapsed into a single image. It can reflect the life force of a subject. And the idea that motion can be art is an abstract concept in itself.
Shooting with a slow shutter speed uses the camera as a tool. It creates abstract photography that reveals worlds that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.

Conclusion

Abstract photography puts emphasis on color, light, shadow, texture, shape, and form. The images don’t have an immediate association with an object. But they evoke feelings and intrigue viewers.
This draws a viewer in and allows them to explore and question the very nature of photography.
Pick one of these ideas and start shooting. These examples of abstract photography will take you out of your comfort zone. They’ll also help you hone your skills.
Check out our Wow Factor Photography course to improve your abstract photography skillset!

So are robots taking over the illustration business? This Jasper Art review answers that question. We’re impressed with the AI-generated images. But Jasper Art isn’t without its limitations.

We take you through Jasper Art in detail. We show you how to generate images. And we show you the results. This updated review looks at Jasper’s abilities with photorealistic images. And you’ll know if Jasper Art is the solution for you.

We Highly Recommend

Jasper Art

Discover an innovative software that uses AI to create stunning images from basic words and phrases. Appreciate the ease and speed of generating content with Jasper Art.

What Is Jasper Art?

Jasper Art is an AI image generator. That means it uses artificial intelligence to generate images. You insert a few keywords and phases. And the Jasper Art bot uses these prompts to create amazing images.

Many readers might be familiar with Jasper AI, the writing assistant. That program uses artificial intelligence to write text. It’s for blogs, websites, and marketing materials. Jasper Art is the artistic sibling of Jasper AI. It’s an AI bot that creates images rather than text.

Jasper Art can take a few words and modifiers to create stunning images. We go into more detail about how to use the program below. But Jasper Art can imitate different artistic styles. And it can copy the style of specific artists.

You can set a mood, and you can select the medium type. You can select acrylic, charcoal, or watercolor. It can even create realistic photo-like images. But as we’ll see, the results are not perfect.

Who Should Use Jasper Art?

Jasper Art is for people who need unique content and need it quickly.

In the world of online commerce, content is king. You need content that attracts attention to sell products or promote brands. And good images are key to beating the competition.

There are excellent websites that provide good-quality stock images. But the online marketplace is so competitive. And other content creators use the same sites to source their images.

This means you lose points for originality by using the same images. And that could affect your SEO score and Google ranking. But you don’t have to rely on the same old stock photos with Jasper AI.

Jasper Art gives you unique images to use for original content. You can generate AI art from any keywords. This means you can create something no one else has.

Plus, you can tailor each generated image to match your content. And because there are so many variables, your competitors will unlikely generate the same thing.

Jasper Art isn’t free. But it’s not expensive if you’re a single user. The paywall might put off casual creators with a slim budget. But for more well-established users, it offers good value for money.

Jasper Art Features

Jasper Art is a single-purpose program. It uses AI to generate images from text prompts. That’s the main feature. But Jasper Art has two modes from which you can generate images:

• Free Form Mode: This lets you type your own words for more specific and unique images.
• Templates: You select specific genres or art styles and generate images within that field using keywords.

We’ll take you through both modes in the following sections.

The Interface

Jasper Art has an easy-to-use interface. It isn’t a big program, so there’s no danger of getting lost. Everything is laid out well, and the tools are easy to find.

As mentioned, there are two modes you can use to generate AI art—Free Form and Templates. All options are in the Free Form mode drop-down menus. And it has a text box for typing prompts.

When you click Create, Jasper gives you four AI images. You can enlarge them individually for a better look and copy or download them.

If you don’t like the results, you can click Create again. And it loads four new images!

You also have options to like or dislike the results. This gives the program feedback. Plus, you can flag images if anything inappropriate is generated.

Jasper Art is quick at generating images. After you click Create, you get four eye-catching images in just a few seconds!

Free Form Mode

Free Form mode gives you the most options when generating images. And it is the easiest way to generate AI art with Jasper.

Jasper Art gives you a 400-character limit in the text box. But it’s more than you need in most cases. And we’ve found it’s best to keep it simple (more on this later).

You start with a basic image description. This can be anything from “apples in a bowl” to “Brad Pitt holding a monkey.” Be specific with your description and type in specific people, animals, or objects.

Using group nouns is also okay. If you type in “fruit,” it gives you a selection of fruit. You don’t need to type “apples, oranges, kiwis,” etc.

You can also use famous characters and celebrities as your subject. As suggested, famous actors are no problem for Jasper Art. Jasper uses AI technology to create images that resemble that person.

Of course, stick to well-known actors and public figures. It won’t know an actor who appeared in a 1989 episode of Murder, She Wrote.

You can see Jasper Art’s rendition of “Brad Pitt holding a monkey” below. It’s in a cartoon style, but the likeness is striking. There’s no denying it looks like Brad Pitt.

Style and Medium

Free Form mode gives you more prompts for creating images. The next input is Style. You’re given a drop-down list of style options to choose from.

When we originally reviewed this AI software in 2022, the style drop-down gave you 13 options. But now you only have six styles to choose from.

The six remaining styles are Abstract, Anime, Art Deco, Digital, Pop Art, and Surrealism. Other styles like 3D Render and Retro have been removed, which is disappointing.

Another user input option in Jasper Art is Medium. And since 2022, the total number of media to choose from has decreased from 15 to seven.

You can choose from Acrylic, Collage, Ink, Mixed Media, Oil Paint, Photography, and Watercolor. You no longer have Charcoal, Crayon, Classic Oil, or pencil sketch.

Inspiration

Inspiration is your next set of options in Jasper Art. You can choose the style of six famous artists, and the AI bot will generate images in that artist’s style.

Originally, you had eight artists to choose from. But you only have six in the current program. They are Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, Norman Rockwell, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Vincent Van Gogh. 

The two removed Inspirations were South Park and Pixar. Neither are specific artists, which might be why they were removed.

We have two images generated by Jasper Art below. They are both portraits of Princess Diana with the medium set to acrylics.

The Jasper Art image on the left has been generated with the Inspiration set to Picasso. The right image has Dali as an influence. They’re both distinct and have traits of the named artists.

Image generation like this is fascinating. But I’m not sure either artist would put their name on these pictures.

Mood and Keywords

This AI art generator lets you select a mood for the images. But again, the number of moods on the list has been reduced.

When we last tested the program, you had a list of 19 moods. Now you only have a selection of six moods. That’s a drastic drop-off!

The moods you’re left with are Calm, Exciting, Fun, Gloomy, Happy, and Whimsical. Moods like Aggressive, Energetic, and Dull are no longer there.

The other drop-down list lets you choose keywords. Jasper AI gives you 12 keywords to help you get the image you need. And this has increased from the nine available keywords in our first review.

Keywords are 8K Resolution, Ambien Light, Black & White, Close-Up, Flat Lighting, Full-Face Portrait, Global Illumination, High Resolution, Highly Detailed, Masterpiece, Photorealistic, and Realistic.

Combining an “Ink” medium with the keyword “Realistic” gives you an impressive AI image. Our ink portrait of George Foreman generated by Jasper Art is below.

The likeness isn’t perfect. And it still looks like a digital image. But the effect is impressive.

It has also created some unusual objects on either side of his face. They are perhaps meant to be boxing gloves. But adding strange touches like this is something Jasper Art is prone to do.

Free Form Mode Tips

The AI image generator gives five input options besides the main image description. But you don’t have to fill every box. You can leave some as “none.”

We found less is more when using prompts in Free Form Mode. So we encourage making a few selections and leaving a few as “none.”

The more information you give Jasper Art, the less you get back from the AI tool. If you fill every box, the results are more confusing and less distinct. There’s too much information, and the AI image generation tool can’t handle it.

We gave Jasper Art something simple with a “rat on a boat” description. But we overloaded the program with style, medium, and mood.

The results (below) look good. But Jasper hasn’t exactly followed all the instructions. So it’s best to keep it simple.

Using the Prompt Box

The prompt is often the key to getting exactly what you want from Jasper. As many users say about AI programs, the results are only as good as your prompt.

As we said, Jasper Art’s prompt box has a limit of 400 characters. You can’t write an essay there. But you can give the bot detailed instructions. But, of course, you need to be concise and specific. 

It’s best if you start with a specific subject. It can be an object, animal, famous person, or character.

You’re then free to type other words that indicate the style of picture your want. You can type artists that aren’t featured in the Inspiration.

You can test Jasper’s art knowledge by referencing Joaquin Sorolla or David Hockney. We look at this in more detail below.

We started with something simple. Our input was “sad dog, acrylic, energetic.” You can see the AI-generated art below. We have four nice results, although I’m unsure how “sad” option four is.

Template Mode

In Template mode, Jasper Art gives you a list of 10 templates to choose from.

The templates are Food Photography, Ink Art, News Graphics, Product Close-Ups, Realistic Animals, Realistic Person, Stock Photography, Storybook Illustration, Travel Photography, and Wallpaper.

You’re given a prompt box when you select the template you want to use. It’s the same prompt box from Free Form Mode with a 400-character limit.

Only here, you don’t have the drop-down options. All your input has to come from the text box. 

Template mode is simple to use. But we found it unreliable.

On many occasions, the AI bot wouldn’t generate any images. It would give us an error message to say it hit a snag. We never had this trouble in Free Form mode. 

Successes and Shortcomings of Jasper Art

When you first use Jasper Art, there’s no denying it’s impressive. With just a few words and prompts, it turns text into images. And when you stick to the basic inputs, the results are very good.

But Jasper Art doesn’t always hit the mark. We’ve already seen a few examples of strange and inaccurate occurrences. But now we’ll look at Jasper’s shortcomings and limitations in more detail. 

Limited Knowledge of Artists’ Styles

As we’ve seen, you can produce images in the style of six artists using the Inspiration drop-down box. First, Jasper has already reduced the inspirations from eight to six.

But we also found limited art knowledge when you use the text box. We put Jasper’s art knowledge to the test by adding artists’ names to the prompt box. And we had mixed success. 

Would Jasper Art generate an image in the style of Russian expressionist Wassily Kandinsky? The AI-generated art below does resemble the work of Kandinsky.

The comparison shows Kandinsky’s work on the left and Jasper’s on the right. The style doesn’t match exactly. But there are definite similarities.

Jasper Art may have missed a few robot art classes, though. We gave it “dog in park, Goya, sad.” The AI image generator gave us four pictures. But they don’t resemble the work of Francisco Goya.

And when we entered “child on the beach, Sorolla,” Jasper couldn’t produce anything. So Jasper Art isn’t an artist imitation app.

Plus, most Jasper Art users don’t want to generate images that look like the work of Goya or Sorolla. People want an AI image generator to produce picture content on any topic. But does it deliver?

Photorealistic Images

Illustrations and artist-inspired works are what some content creators are looking for. But most media producers are looking for high-quality, true-to-life, photorealistic images. Is Jasper Art up to the task?

We have to say Jasper Art’s attempts at photorealism are hit-and-miss. We’ve often been taken aback by the results at first glance. But even after a quick investigation, excitement is replaced by concern.

Objects and Scenes

The best photorealistic results are requests for inanimate objects or lifeless scenes. The fruit bowl below is a good example. We typed “fruit bowl in a country kitchen” with the keyword “photorealistic.”

You know exactly what you’re looking at. And you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a genuine photo—at least at first glance.

Jasper Art’s soft focus effect is the first indication that it’s an AI-generated image. A shallow depth of field is a common tool in photography.

But even in the focused areas, there’s a soft, dreamy texture. Even so, this image wouldn’t look out of place on a food blog.

Animals

When it comes to realistic animals, Jasper Art also does a decent job. At least it does a decent job sometimes. 

With the prompt “cat next to a window,” the medium set to “Photography,” and the keyword set to “Photorealistic,” we generated the image below.

It’s not half bad. The cat looks like a cat. And you even get good texture and detail on the fur.

The polished wooden floor looks excellent too. You could post this on social media, and many would not realize it wasn’t a real photo.

But as with the fruit bowl, we have the image’s soft-focus finish. Everything is slightly fuzzy and soft. And that’s a real tell that this is an AI-generated image.

The other tell is the cat’s left eye. This isn’t well rendered at all. And the eyes, as we’ll see in the next section, are a problem with Jasper Art images.

Jasper Art isn’t always so successful in generating true-to-life animals. As you can see with the monkey images below, they all have an undeniable digital AI quality.

The detail is incredible. But each image looks thoroughly artificial. And that’s even after we used the “photorealistic” keyword from the drop-down box.

Generic People and Celebrity Faces

When generating photorealistic images of people, Jasper Art is oh-so-close yet oh-so-far. When you generate four images of realistic people, the initial reaction is amazement.

But the more you look at them, the more it just doesn’t look right. Take a brief look at the four images of the Sikh men below.

The fact that Jasper Art created this man out of nothing is mind-blowing. And even the soft focus effect we saw on the animal images is less prevalent.

The problem comes when you look at each image more closely. And that problem is with the eyes. It’s one area where Jasper Art slips up.

The Sikh in the yellow turban is the most obvious example. But it’s a feature in every image. Not only are the pupils facing in different directions. The eyes are also different sizes. 

This is only one of the main identifiers that help us pick AI images from real images. So photorealism isn’t quite there when you look at the pictures closely. 

The results are more disappointing when you want photorealistic images of famous faces. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world’s most recognizable and photographed people.

That means Jasper has plenty of images to reference. And yet it can’t generate photorealistic images of the football player with any real success.

Again, we see the same problems (pictured below). First, none of the results are particularly photorealistic despite using the “Photography” medium and the “Photorealistic” keyword.

The next problem is that it doesn’t look like Ronaldo. There is a resemblance. But no one is going to believe that’s him. And it has the same problem with the eyes. They are facing different directions.

But Jasper Art‘s failings here are good news for celebrities. Fake images can cause a lot of problems. And using people’s likenesses without their permission might bring up legal issues too.

Failing to Answer Prompts

Jasper Art lacks extensive knowledge of artists and their styles. So you can’t set up an AI art forgery business yet. But we’ve also found it can’t always generate images that fit your description.

We entered “frog driving a car” into the prompt box in our original review in 2022. And Jasper Art produced some nice frogs in the “Crayon” medium (pictured below).

But the images generated weren’t exactly what we asked for. Not one of the frogs is sitting behind the wheel of a car.

We tried the same prompt again to see if Jasper Art had improved. We couldn’t use the “Crayon” medium because it’s no longer available. Instead, we used the “Acrylic Paint” medium. 

The results from our recent test are better. You can see cars or at least car-like features in all the images. But is the frog driving the car in any of them? No, not really.

The fact that Jasper can create these images at all is amazing. But it doesn’t always hit the mark.

A frog driving a car is a silly suggestion. But it illustrates an important point when talking about AI image creation. Jasper Art is intelligent. But it’s still a ways off from creating with human intellect.

You can ask a young child to draw a picture of a frog driving a car. Their execution level might not be as high or quick. But they will understand the concept of a frog driving a car.

Image Uses and Legal Restrictions

Jasper Art lets you create images. But can you use these images commercially? The simple answer is “yes.”

You can use a Jasper Art image in your blog or on marketing material for your company. You can even use them in advertisements. But using Jasper Art images isn’t all smooth sailing.

Images created with Jasper Art fall under a creative commons license. This means the person generating them doesn’t own the rights. Others can then use them as they please.

Plus, Jasper Art generates images using the information it finds online. It actively copies the style of famous artists.

That means there’s a risk an image can infringe on an artist’s or image’s copyright. And as the creator, the user is held responsible.

You also have to be careful using a person’s likeness for advertising. When you use a photo to advertise a product, everyone in the picture must sign a model release form.

A celebrity might be inclined to sue if they see their face on an ad they didn’t know about. So proceed with caution when you use Jasper Art. They do have a good FAQ section on their website.

Jasper Art Access and Prices

Jasper Art comes as part of Jasper’s subscription packages. You can’t subscribe to Jasper Art on its own. You must choose one of the full plans, including their AI writing tools.

Jasper has three subscription plans to choose from:

• Creator: This is their cheapest plan. It is for individual users and has a limited toolbox.
• Teams: This plan caters to small businesses and collaborative groups. It’s double the price of the Creator plan. But you get more than twice the access.
• Business: This is their top plan. It has no set price, as everything is negotiated to fit your company. Jasper creates bespoke plans to meet your needs as a business.

Jasper Art comes as standard in all the subscription plans. But the problem is that you can’t access it as a stand-alone program. It only exists as an extension to the larger Jasper AI content program. 

Jasper Art Alternatives

Jasper Art isn’t the only AI tool in town. There are other AI image generators. The two main rivals are PhotoAI and MidJourney. Both produce custom images from basic text entries.

PhotoAI

If you want photo-realistic images of people, there’s no better software than PhotoAI. It’s an incredible text-to-image AI generation tool that allows you to create original images of yourself or other people in any situation. 

PhotoAI has several public “characters” build into the program. But you can also turn yourself into an AI character. All you need to do is feed it photos of yourself, and it creates a character you can use in your AI-generated images. It doesn’t have to be you. You can turn anyone you know into a PhotoAI character.

The software is really easy to use. You don’t need any experience with AI or advanced computer software. The main skill is mastering the prompts. Thankfully, PhotoAI has plenty of pre-programmed prompts you can use with your characters. 

You can generate images of your character in different outfits and fashion styles. You can experiment with different scenarios and environments. And you can have the character partake in any activity you can imagine.

PhotoAI isn’t perfect. It still struggles with specific elements, like hands and sports equipment. But overall, the results are truly staggering. The photorealism is outstanding. And many of the images can pass for real photos. It’s the best photo-realistc AI software there is.

Read our full PhotoAI Review to find our more about this incredible software.

MidJourney AI

Our colleagues Jenn and Nick have done an in-depth review of Midjourney. They were both very impressed with the results. 

Their tests show that the Midjourney AI can handle more input information. And the AI art is intricate and detailed. You can read her full review of MidJourney for more info.

You can test the beta version of Midjourney for free. You get 25 free image generations then you must pay for the service.

For those who want more, there’s a monthly subscription. The basic subscription package gives you 200 image creations a month. And there’s another package with unlimited image generation.

Our Verdict for Jasper AI

Writing this Jasper Art review has shown us two things. The first is that AI image generators are amazing tools. Artificial intelligence can transform basic text into stunning images. It can also mimic well-known artists and draw famous faces.

The second thing we’ve learned is that robots aren’t taking over just yet. They’ve taken a few classes at art school. But Jasper Art hasn’t got his full diploma yet.

Photorealistic AI images have come a long way. And the results are genuinely impressive. But they are still far from perfect. Even with the best results, a tell or two identifies it as an AI image.

Jasper Art isn’t an all-in-one creative team. It can mimic many styles. But viewers can often identify AI pictures from those of a talented human. Companies that want real works of art need to employ human artists. Bots create content. Artists create art.

This is a good AI image generator for people needing a lot of fast content. It produces fantastic art images for blogs, marketing emails, and even ads. You can create whole websites with images generated by Jasper Art. And it’s a more creative alternative to using stock photos.

Jasper Art still has its limitations. And these will cause some frustration when trying to create original content. But overall, we think it works well for mid-level content. So try Jasper Art for yourself!

We Highly Recommend

Jasper Art

Discover an innovative software that uses AI to create stunning images from basic words and phrases. Appreciate the ease and speed of generating content with Jasper Art.

As of this writing, Midjourney’s Discord has over 14 million members. And this artificial intelligence art generator may change the way you create images.

What Is Midjourney?

Midjourney is a research lab that explores new mediums of thought. Their goal is to expand the imaginative powers of the human species.

What we are talking about here is Midjourney’s interactive “bot.” It uses machine learning to create pictures based on text.

A bot is an autonomous program on the internet or another network that can interact with systems or users. The program takes concepts and makes them a reality.

You simply describe what you want to see. Then the Midjourney bot goes out and finds images that are like what you described. And then it combines them uniquely and artistically.

What you get is more than a simple composite. Midjourney is an AI image creator. You get an entirely new creation! Now, many similar AI technologies have developed, including DALL-E 2.

How to Get Midjourney

The Midjourney multiverse opened up beta testing in July of 2022. Before, you had to have an invite to get onto the platform. But with expanded access, everyone can try out this new world of AI art generation.

The Midjourney bot runs through the Discord server. Open Discord in your browser to use the program. Or download the desktop or smartphone app onto your laptop, computer, or phone.

In a browser, go to Midjourney and click “join the beta.” Then, accept the invite. While you are here, look at the “getting started” link, where you will find general instructions on using the bot.

When you return to the Discord app, you should now have a Midjourney icon in the left-hand column. It is white with a boat icon.

That’s it! You are in! Time to have some fun.

How to Use Midjourney

Now let’s look at how to make AI-generated art. Click the Midjourney app icon in Discord. This takes you to the Midjourney workspace.

In the left-hand column, you will see a list of chat rooms. Start in one of the Newbie rooms.

In the “message” area at the bottom of the page, type “/imagine.” Here are the basic and advanced ways to lay out your prompt. The instructions are pretty clear.

Type what you want to see. Your prompt can be as fanciful as you want. You can include subjects, artistic styles, mood descriptors, and anything else.

Enter a whole paragraph, one word, or your favorite song lyrics. The combinations are endless. Let your imagination fly free!

I wrote, “/imagine a photograph of a photographer climbing a mountain to take a picture of a dinosaur.” 

Then, you have to scroll to find the message the Midjourney bot has made for you. You should be able to notice it easily with the yellow highlight.

You should see the AI working, which may take a minute or so. When the image has finished being created, scroll to find your new response.

Midjourney then gives you a range of options (pictured below). You can get an upscaled version of each image (U1, U2, U3, or U4).

Or you can ask it to do variations of a specific image (V1, V2, V3, or V4.) You can also get it to produce completely new results.

I decided to make it give me more variations of the fourth image. (Midjourney assigns the top-left image as number one and the bottom-right image as number four.)

The results were great, and I liked the fourth image the best. So I clicked U4.

Next, I went to find my final image in the chat. Then I clicked on the image to save it.

The Art of Writing Midjourney Prompts

There is a certain art to writing prompts, which is half the fun of Midjourney. Currently, the bot seems better at creating artistic images than photographic ones. And that may be the point.

Sometimes the results look like a photo. But mostly, they look like paintings or drawings. The program has a style of its own.

It really depends on the descriptive words you use. If you want a photo, try specifying a vintage photo like a wet plate or tin type.

The bot even recognizes many famous people. A daily prompt included John Oliver. And for 24 hours, everyone on the server created pictures of the comedian like the one below.

But this has led to the creation of “deep fakes.” These are realistic-looking images (or videos) of real people in imaginary situations or doing or saying imaginary things.

This caused Midjourney to put a pause on free trials. And it has even banned using the word “Pope” to prevent images using his likeness.

Creators often perfect their images by running the program many times. Each time they refine the prompt description and try different variations.

Some prompts add functionality and do something specific.

By default, all the images are in a square format. But typing “–ar 16:9,” for instance, changes the aspect ratio to a wide landscape, perfect for video screens.

If you want to see all of the art you made, go to the Midjourney page and log in. Your creations will be on the home page. And you can download them from there.

Can Midjourney Post-Process Photos?

Photographers often ask me if Midjourney can post-process photos taken with a camera. The short answer is no. This is not an image editor.

You can get images based on your photo and prompts. But you are not going to get a post-processed version of your photo.

To base your image on an existing photo, start the prompt with the web address of your photo. I usually save images into Dropbox or Google Drive and copy the associated link.

Follow the photo link with text describing how you want the final product to look.

Midjourney and Copyright

By default, images generated on Midjourney are public. Everyone can see what you are creating.

You can even interact with someone else’s creations by upscaling one you like or asking for variations. This means you get to see and learn from other creators’ prompts.

To use the app, you have to be open to the public nature of the platform. But if you can’t live with the open space, you can pay a fee to make your account private.

Copyright for AI-generated art is a bit ill-defined at the moment. You create the prompt. But the bot actually creates the image.

Midjourney is no longer providing free trial accounts. But it used to be that art created with a free trial account had a Commons Noncommercial 4.0 Attribution International License. So you could use images if you credited Midjourney and didn’t make money off them.

Today, you must pay for an account, and you can use your art as you wish. This includes selling them.

But the company can use your images. And since you created the images on a public forum, you probably can’t expect to use them exclusively. (You can read Midjourney’s Terms of Service here.)

Copyright law is complicated at the best of times. Throw artificial intelligence into the mix, and we are in for some interesting copyright cases. It remains to be seen how AI copyright issues pan out.

How Much Does Midjourney Cost?

Midjourney used to offer a free trial that allowed you to make up to 25 images. But as of March 28th, 2023, they stopped the free trial.

There are monthly and yearly (discounted) subscriptions. You can review Midjourney’s various plans. The Basic Plan monthly subscription ($10 per month) allows you up to 3.3 hours of usage per month.

The higher-level Standard Plan monthly subscription ($30 per month) gives unlimited creations if you work in “relaxed” mode. And there’s “fast GPU” mode, which allows you to create images faster. But you are limited to 15 hours monthly for this plan.

Plus, there is a Pro Plan ($60 per month) available. This increases your monthly time to 30 hours. And it increases the number of concurrent jobs you can have and speeds up processing times.

And there’s a Mega Plan for $120 per month that allows 60 hours of “fast GPU” mode usage per month. And it allows more images to be created concurrently.

Again, here is the link for Midjourney’s subscription plans so you can see which is best for you.

You can manage your subscription anytime by typing “/info” into the message bar.

Best Midjourney Alternative

PhotoAI is the best alternative software to Midjourney. It’s an AI photo generation tool dedicated to creating photo-realistic portraits of people. And while the results are not always perfect, they can be incredible. 

The top selling point of PhotoAI is the creation of AI “characters”. And you create characters by feeding the program real photos of a specific person. That person can be you, a colleague, or a family member. The more images you feed the robot, the better the AI renditions are.

Once you’ve trained the software on your character, you create new images using text prompts. You can suggest locations, activities, and even specific items of clothing. The robot then uses that information to generate photo-realistic portraits of your character. 

It isn’t perfect. It struggles with hands, limb proportion, and equipment. But when PhotoAI gets it right, you have usable AI-generated portraits. PhotoAI is at the very forefront of the AI imaging revolution. 

Read our full PhotoAI review for a deeper dive into this astonishing program. 

Midjourney: Our Verdict

Midjourney AI is a powerful tool for artistic image creation. You don’t need to be able to draw or have an artistic background. Simply describe what you want to see and let the bot do the rest.

But you cannot always anticipate what Midjourney will give you. It is like rain on a car windshield. The results are somewhat predictable with a large dose of randomness.

You do not always get exactly what you had in mind. But you often get a really cool image that you were not expecting!

It is getting better and better at photorealism. And soon, its images will be almost indistinguishable from normal photos.

You can control the Midjourney bot to an extent depending on how well you can verbally describe what you want to see. For many, this is tricky.

Again, you cannot always predict what the bot will render. There is an element of chance to what you get. In this way, it feels more like a game. So spin the wheel and see what you get!

Understanding Geometric Photography

Remember geometry at school? Don’t worry. You don’t need to find your old math textbooks. All you need is your camera.
I always found myself fascinated by how shapes fit together to create spaces. Admittedly, I was never great at math. But I do think my interest pointed me in the direction of photography.
Lines, circles, spheres, and triangles. Almost every physical feature of the world is made from geometrical shapes. In photography, geometric imagery emphasizes bold shapes and patterns.
Common examples of geometric photography are found in architectural imagery. They can be geometric shapes that create abstract images. But you can also use geometric shapes in other areas of photography.
You’ll find elements of geometric photography in genres like minimalism, fine art, and fashion photography. And geometric street photography is trendy. And cityscapes are full of geometric shapes you can exploit.

Lead With Lines

Once you start looking, you’ll find lines everywhere. Bold, thin, wavy, or sharp—there are countless types of lines. And you can use them to strengthen your composition in geometric photography.
The geometry of lines helps us visualize our surroundings. They define space, momentum, and emphasis. Lines delineate both conceptual and physical designs. They provide a scaffold for ideas and experiences.
Lines can also be the subject in your photography, conveying emotion through shape and form.
Leading lines provide a visual path for the viewer. You can use them to direct the viewer’s gaze through your photograph. And horizontal or vertical lines allow us to get our bearings within an image.
Lines and geometric photography are almost inseparable. It’s the most basic element of this visual art form.

Repeat Yourself

Repetition involves repeating a subject many times for greater impact within an image. You can find geometric shapes that repeat to create patterns throughout your images. With each repetition, the geometry in the image is emphasized. It gives your geometric photography rhythm and structure. The shapes become part of the narrative of your photograph.
Repeating geometric patterns is especially effective because it creates a bold statement. The repeated geometry can direct the viewer’s eye.
Look for brick walls, windows, tiles, and flowers. Many repetitious subjects emphasize geometric qualities at the same time.

Suggest Symmetry

Symmetry is the visual balance of one or more subjects within a composition. It occurs both naturally and artificially. It is often tied to the geometric properties of a photograph. Symmetry visually and psychologically pleasing to encounter. And it adds an even flow to a photograph.
An image doesn’t need to be perfect to achieve the impression of symmetry. You can find symmetry by using reflections in glass or water. Or you can look for similar geometric shapes in your compositions.
The suggestion of geometric features evenly distributed over an image is enough. It’ll evoke the sensual experience of geometric symmetry in itself.

Use Color

Color can liven up a geometric image, snagging the viewer’s eye. But color also can work on a deeper, more psychological level. Colors are linked to emotional experiences. Different colors hold specific meanings for different people. While red shows passion, blue denotes calmness. You introduce a new layer of experience to geometric photography by incorporating color.
Bringing color theory into your work adds depth and meaning to your geometric photography. You can use different color patterns to give your images a more substantial emotional feel as Turkish photographer Yener Torun displays in the image below.
You can also use color to make your images pop. Geometric shapes give you a canvas to add blocks of bold colors. You can use the colors to emphasize the geometric patterns and shapes.
Color can add new dimensions to architectural photography. It’ll strengthen blocks and lines. And the color will add life to abstract scenes.

Try Black and White

Black and white can’t rely on color to get attention. It depends on shape and form. The contrast of black and white helps create dynamic shapes and lines.
You don’t have blocks of color. But you can find strong shapes made from black and white. And you can also look for contrasting shades of grey.
Black and white photography is about finding light and dark areas. Look for the regions where light meets dark. The light beams and shadows create a world of shape that surrounds you.

Go Textural

Texture defines the way an image feels. It allows the viewer to connect with a photograph on a physical level. Rough, smooth, wrinkly, or slippery—most subjects are made from textural qualities.
Geometric subjects operate on many textural levels. Polished metallic surfaces give an impression of smoothness and modernity. Weather-worn geometric architecture can feel rough and old. You can almost feel the rough texture of old bricks.
You can also use geometric elements as a tool to show texture. It enhances each textural component by dividing the image into digestible segments.

Minimize!

Minimalism has a less-is-more approach to art. It uses few elements combined with negative space, allowing each subject the space to breathe. Minimalism loves geometric shapes and lines. They’re two areas of photography that work well together.
It’s characterized by the singular or repetitious use of forms. These can include squares, rectangles, or triangles. Minimalist photography embraces bare-bones imagery. There is very little to distract the eye, giving the subject more prominence in the photo.
Over the years, minimalism has evolved. And you’ll find minimalism in many genres of photography.
Geometric minimalism has remained constant. It aims to capture the beauty of geometric photography through isolation and composition.

Get Some Perspective

Perspective is a powerful tool in the photographer’s toolkit. It often makes the difference between a boring image and an engaging one.
Perspective refers to the spatial relationship between a photographer and a subject. You control the point where the viewer enters the photograph by adjusting perspective. A photograph taken with a camera on the ground will render one visual experience. A camera positioned above a subject looking down, a different one.
In geometric photography, plenty of subjects appear in mundane situations and settings.
Experiment with the positioning of a camera in relation to a geometric subject. You might create an unusual and intriguing perspective.

Investigate Organic/Inorganic Subjects

In geometric visual art, shapes and lines are either organic or inorganic. Organic geometry is flowy, relaxed, and smooth. It’s usually found in natural settings. And inorganic geometry is often sharp, energetic, and human-made. Distinguishing between the two can highlight the underlying themes of a geometric photograph. The inorganic geometric subject matter is ideal if you want to express modernity or energy. If you want to cultivate a sense of ease or nature, organic geometry could be the way to go. Of course, there is a point where the two can interact together. The geometric subject’s organic/inorganic flow or source will dictate the image’s mood.

Find Geometry in Architecture

We have to mention the most popular geometric subject—architecture. From ancient history, humans have sought shelter in fabricated structures. These structures evolved to be a testament to art and ingenuity as human dwellings.
Recording geometrical features in architectural photography speaks to our desire for order. And it celebrates the geometric designs of old and new buildings. We see how something as vital as shelter can become an art form.
Geometric photography can focus on individual buildings. It can even be a study of a small section of a building. Or you can look for geometric studies in cityscape photography. There are bold shapes and hard lines. The urban landscape is the ideal location for a geometric photographer.

Conclusion

Geometric photography appeals to viewers who seek aesthetic studies of the physical world. It’s about finding lines and shapes in the world around us. It examines organic and inorganic environments.
By focusing on geometry, you create engaging photography. And it’s grounded in an innate human tendency to try and make order out of our visual environment.

What is Surreal Portrait Photography?

Surrealism is a form of art that allows you to express yourself, experiment, and create fine art. It focuses on dreamlike elements.
These elements can be bizarre, like Dali’s The Elephants. Or they can be unbelievably realistic, like Justin Peters’ Cloud Whale.
These two examples are very different. But they share the same characteristics. They aren’t something you’d see in everyday life.
Recreating dreams is a common technique in various photography genres. But it’s most popular in surreal portrait photography. Surreal pictures are images you could potentially see in a dream.

What is Surreal Portrait Photography?

Naturally, surreal portrait photography combines surrealism and portraiture. Photos of people are stretched to test the bounds of realism.
Surreal portraits should make you wonder about the story behind the picture. Viewers might end up with more questions than answers. But that’s the whole point of surrealism in general!
They make you think from a different perspective. You might even find surreal portraits relatable on an emotional level.

7 Ideas for Surreal Portrait Photography

Shoot stunning surreal portraits by playing with facial expressions, poses, and props. You can also enhance surreal portrait effects in post-production using editing software. Your imagination is your best tool!

1. Use Serious Facial Expressions to Enhance Surrealism

In surreal portrait photography, you’ll notice that models have similar expressions. They might look lost in thought, confused, or unaware of the camera.
The seriousness of their expressions plays an important role. It intensifies the surreal effect of the portrait.
If the model looked cheerful in the middle of an unusual landscape, they would look out of place. There’s nothing wrong with this mix in general. But it doesn’t reflect the surreal portrait genre.
But not all severe expressions will go well with your theme. Be open to your model’s feedback and experiment!

Facial Expressions and Poses to Try

Ask your model to make an intense expression when looking at the camera. It’s perfect for close-up portraits. The viewer makes eye contact with the model and will not be distracted by other subjects.
Simply having your model look upwards will make them look like they’re lost in thought or looking at something mysterious in the distance.
Or, all your model has to do is close their eyes and slightly part their lips. This expression is great for emotional or tranquil photographs.
One of the best ways to create pure surrealism is to hide your model’s face completely. You can do this by asking them to stand with their back to the camera. Or, you can also have them cover their faces with a mask, their hair, or their hands.

2. Use Environmental Elements for Surreal Portraits

The atmosphere of your photograph is key to surreal portrait photography. By putting yourself and your model in different locations, you set the scene for the narrative you are trying to achieve. 
Look at the example of Jovana Rikalo’s beautiful picture of a model in water. She uses water and foliage to create a surreal portrait.
The way she places flowers makes the model look as if she is floating. Jovana then creates a scene where the model appears to be stepping through from another dimension. She does this simply by rotating the image in post-production.
Elements can be natural, like trees in a forest, or artificial, like shopping carts in an alleyway. Think about how locations look. Determine how you can use the space and its objects to help you create surreal portraits.

3. Use Lighting to Enhance Surreal Stories

Lighting can also amplify surreal portrait effects. Different lighting setups set the mood at the beginning of your photoshoot.
Moody lighting exists in many forms. If you want to use natural light, shoot when it’s cloudy or gloomy outside. You can also shoot indoors when it’s cloudy for a moodier effect.
You can also use artificial light for sharper results. This gives you more control over the look of your surreal images.
Setting up a studio with artificial light is another option. It also allows you to shoot without worrying about unpredictable weather changes.
Keep your artificial light bright but limited. You can use neon lights or cover any light source with colored gel filters.

4. Use Photoshop to Create Unreal Scenes

Photoshop allows you to construct surreal photographs easily. You can create new worlds through collages. Or you can even make daytime look nighttime by using color and lighting adjustments.
The best aspect of Photoshop is the level of detail you can add or subtract from the frame. I like this image as it looks more surreal the longer you look at it.
I thought the model was lying on top of a mirror at first. But now I see Jovana Rikalo has played with layers, perspective, and rotation to subtly contrast the model’s closed and open eyes.
When you match Photoshops tools with a creative mind, there’s no limit to the number of fantastic, surreal images you can make.

5. Use Transparent and Textured Material to Create Depth and Mystery

Surrealism goes hand in hand with unusual ideas. Because of this, you can use cheap but unusual props to enhance your portraits. Use draping materials like transparent curtains, sheets, and scaffolding with texture.
You can use these coverings to hide parts of your model’s face, make them less visible, or add depth to your photos. The more textured the material is, the more mysterious your surreal images will look.
Using transparent material is also an easy way to make a dull composition stand out. All you have to do is shoot through them with your model posing somewhere in the distance.
For softer effects, use a large aperture like f/2.5. This will blur any out-of-focus layers and create even more depth.

6. Use Smoke Bombs to Create Dreamlike Atmospheres

Another easy way to take outstanding surreal portraits is to use colored smoke bombs.
Smoke bombs are affordable and can be used in a variety of settings. You can use them as backgrounds, foregrounds, or props to hide your model’s face.
They can be pretty dangerous, though, primarily when used indoors. So familiarize yourself with smoke bomb safety precautions to keep yourself and your model safe.
It’s likely that the model in this shot posed for a few seconds before putting the smoke bomb away. Concepts like this are inspiring but have their hazards.
Don’t recreate this unless you know how to handle smoke bombs professionally. If the risks outweigh the creative benefits, you can use incense instead.

7. Use a Slow Shutter Speed to Create Eerie Motion Blur

Fast shutter speeds are great for capturing movements in detail. Slow shutter speeds are ideal for soft and eerie images.
A slow shutter speed is often used in landscape photography to show the natural movements of water or the effects of the wind. In surreal portrait photography, you can use a slow shutter speed to show motion blur. You can capture ghostly figures or create a more abstract effect.
Alternatively, you can pan your camera with a moving subject to blur your background. Either way, a blurry effect will also make it harder for viewers to understand what’s going on in your image. This is perfect for abstract and surreal portraits.
To make motion blur look even eerier, convert your surreal portraits to black and white. You can do this while shooting or later with editing software.

Conclusion

Surreal portrait photography forces you out of your comfort zone. You have to take out-of-the-box approaches to achieve these otherworldly, surreal images. So, get a friend or family member to model for you and get creative!
Experiment with these photography techniques and compositions. And let your imagination run wild! Surreal portrait photography is more successful the more experimental you get.
Try out our Digital Dreamworlds e-book to create stunning, surreal collages!

Benefits of Practicing Abstract Flower Photography

There are different kinds of abstract photography that appeal to a great variety of photographers.
But why are abstract flowers so popular? And why should you start with them?
Flowers can be found anywhere and all have unique designs. You can experiment with different kinds of flowers in one day. All without spending a lot of money or traveling the world.
At the end of your photoshoot, you’ll have colorful results that you can proudly share with others.
Once you master the art of abstract flower photography, you’ll be able to adapt to any lighting or setting.
These are the main reasons that make this sub-genre so appealing.

Use a Macro Lens to Capture as Many Details as Possible

It’s possible to take abstract photos with wide-angle or prime lenses. But you might find it easier to use a macro lens instead.
There are no specific requirements for macro lenses when it comes to this genre.
As long as you have a macro lens, you can take gorgeous abstract photos of any flower.

Or Use Any Other Lens and Crop Your Photos

If you’re eager to take photos right now but don’t have a macro lens, you can still take stunning abstract photos.
Once your photos are ready, all you have to do is crop them.
During your shoot, keep cropping in mind. Get as close to your subject as your lens allows so that you don’t have to crop too much.
If you take a wide photo and crop it dramatically, you’ll be left with a low-quality image.
Also, if you’re using a wide-angle lens, keep your flower centered so that it doesn’t get distorted at the edges.

Use a Large Aperture to Focus on Specific Parts of a Flower

The photo above wouldn’t look abstract if the background were visible.
Background distractions can make it easier for people to understand what’s going on in a photo.
To avoid this, use a large aperture, or a small f-number, such as f/2.5.
A small f-number will let you focus on one specific thing and blur out everything else beyond your subject.
You can take this further by placing petals or branches right in front of your lens. It will create a blurred foreground.

Experiment with Different Angles to Find Your Style

Angles are everything. An unusual angle will make your flower look even more abstract.
If you shoot from a very low angle, you’ll be able to capture parts of a flower that is usually not seen in other photos.
On the other hand, a commonly used angle will result in dull photos. It won’t challenge you to get out of your comfort zone.
There are no unflattering angles in flower photography. So feel free to experiment as much as you want.

Use Both Natural and Artificial Light to Create Unique Abstract Photos

Abstract images of flowers are often very delicate and bright. To re-create this effect, take photos next to a large window.
You can remove unwanted shadows using a reflector.
If you want to try something completely different, work with colored artificial light.
Harsh light and vibrant colors are unusual for this genre. But they can make your photos stand out.

Blur Your Photos on Purpose to Create a Painterly Effect

Blurring your photos on purpose is a great way to sharpen your manual focusing skills.
Many photographers take blurred photos to make their subjects completely unrecognizable.
To understand what’s going on in the photo above, you have to analyze it very carefully. You might even mistake it for an abstract painting!
The painterly effect is prominent in this genre thanks to its dreaminess. The soft, blurred colors create a nostalgic feel.
To re-create it, all you have to do is switch to manual focus and focus away from your subject.

If You Want Something Moodier, Shoot in Front of a Black Background

Abstract photography doesn’t always involve blur and cropped compositions.
Sometimes, a specific atmosphere can make a harmless flower look like a moody character in a film.
To create this atmosphere, shoot in front of a dark backdrop. You can use natural side light to add depth to the flowers.

Shoot in Front of a Window to Create Stunning Reflections

If you want to add texture to your abstract photos, you can use a variety of things you already own.
Put your flower behind a window or a piece of glass. Use an angle that creates a decent amount of reflections.
Avoid standing in front of the window unless you want to be included in the reflection.
To add even more depth and textures, you can spray the glass with water. This will create bokeh-like patterns in the foreground.
You can also paint the glass to make your photos look more vibrant.

Create In-Camera Double Exposures for Perfect Abstract Art

Some cameras, like the Canon 5D Mark III, have a double exposure feature that you can use to combine two photos.
This is inspired by multiple exposures in analog photography.
A combination of two macro photos can make it difficult to understand what’s going on in a photo. That is your goal.
You can also use double exposures to enhance dull compositions and fill up negative space.
If your camera doesn’t support this feature, you can create multiple exposures in your editing program using layers and Screen mode.

Shoot Through Transparent Fabric to Create Otherworldly Silhouettes

If you have any kind of transparent material, be it a curtain or a thin sheet of paper, you can use this idea.
Start by placing a few flowers on something transparent. Your aim is to shoot through the material. Make sure you place it in a way that gives you enough room to move around.
Create backlight (light shining behind your subject) using natural light or bright artificial light, like a torch.
Transparency and backlight will create a soft silhouette.

Conclusion

The term ‘abstract flowers’ might seem like an intimidating genre.
In reality, it’s something anyone can enjoy whenever you want regardless of budget and equipment.

7. Paintings as Inspiration for Aerial Landscape Photography

Much like abstract photography, abstract painters strive to convey an atmosphere or an emotion without referencing the objective.
Exploring landscape and abstract painting informs your approach to aerial abstract landscape photography. It will help you identify artistic potential and curate well-thought out compositions.

6. Use Google Earth to Research Aerial Photography Locations

Google Earth inspires exploration. It offers you a top-down rendering of the Earth from a satellites’ point of view. This allows you to locate potential sites and gain some inspiration for your next aerial shoot.
Simply click on an area in the globe and zoom in to inspect the landscape from above. Just keep in mind that factors like the season and weather can change the landscape.
What you see in Google Earth won’t always be what you see through the viewfinder on the day.
Regardless, Google Earth is a great tool for inspiring your next aerial shoot.

5. Use Drones for Abstract Aerial Photography

One of the biggest advantages of drone-based aerial photography is flexibility. Inside a manned aircraft, the capacity to take photos is limited by the capabilities of the aircraft.
Fixed-wing and even rotary-wing aircraft have pronounced turning circles. The size of an average camera-equipped drone allows for quick and easy adjustments in perspective.

Diving in With Drones

The best drone photography often features places that are difficult or impossible to access with fixed and rotary-winged aircraft.
Flying close to uneven ground or just above the tree line may prove too risky for manned aircraft. It’s a lot safer with the smaller, more agile drone.
You can make dynamic images of your surroundings without ever leaving the ground yourself.
Additionally, drones (and helicopters) can operate without a dedicated runway.

4. Photograph From a Fixed-Wing Aircraft

This is more expensive than a drone. But manned fixed-wing aircraft are cheaper to charter then helicopters. Plus, the fixed-wing aircraft has a much-increased payload.
You aren’t limited to matching the capabilities of a smaller drone. There are attachments that can mount a full DSLR to a suitably equipped drone. But the outlay makes remote-control flying just a little riskier.

Flying Fixed

The range and endurance of fixed-wing aircraft is superior to the drone. The latter relies on a battery of limited capacity.
Being able to fly faster and longer in a fixed-wing aircraft means that you have hours of flight-time to photograph abstract aerial landscapes. All without having to recharge several times in between.
Fixed-wing aircraft also have greater reach in terms of altitude than the average drone. This gives you the option of capturing scenery at a greater distance from the earth.

A Vision for Visibility

It may seem obvious, but a high-wing aircraft is a must for abstract aerial landscape photography.
A low wing configuration will almost completely obscure your vision of the landscape below.

3. Take Abstract Aerial Landscapes From Helicopters

When it comes to flexibility in the sky, helicopters and drones excel over fixed-wing configurations.

Bad Vibrations

Due to large and heavy rotating components, vibration is one difficulty photographers encounter when photographing aboard a helicopter.

Paying up

Perhaps the most significant downside of chartering a helicopter is the cost. You’ll have plenty of material after shooting for a couple of hours in a helicopter. But it’s easy to rack up some significant debt on the credit card.
Fixed-wing and drone photography are a more economical route.

2. Create Depth and Interest With Artistic Elements

Lines

In landscape photography, a horizontal line suggests the horizon, dictating time and place. In abstract aerial landscape photography, a horizon isn’t necessary.
Instead, line regulates shape, form, rhythm and space, anchoring an image and creating depth.

Shape/Form

Put simply, shape is 2D. It’s an outline without any evidence of volume. Form refers to the point where a shape becomes 3D.
Shooting with the lens parallel to the landscape flattens a scene. It creates a study of the shapes that construct a plane of view.
Photographing a landscape at an angle cultivates form, illuminating the layers of a field of view.

Space

Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground of an image. It refers to the distance around, between and inside subject matter.
Negative space refers to the areas unoccupied by an object. An object itself is a positive space.
Balancing positive and negative space creates harmony.
For example, the presence of shadow within an abstract aerial landscape breaks up positive space, allowing a scene to breathe.

Value

Value defines the range of lightness to darkness in an image. Shooting during the golden or blue hour will produce more subtle values in tone, creating depth.
Photographing toward midday will cultivate a harsher value.
Make sure you plan the time of day for your flight to maximise the desired window of light.

Color

Abstract aerial landscape photography captures colors that go unnoticed from the ground. Some landscapes are awash with color. Others are muted, creating a more subdued experience.
A monochrome or black and white scheme unifies an abstract aerial landscape, emphasizing form and tone.

Texture

Texture adds a sense of touch to a photograph. As one of the 5 senses, touch adds dimensionality to our world.
Abstract aerial landscape photography plays with our innate sense of touch. It makes an abstract landscape rich with tactility, yet with no solid visual reference.
This cultivates curiosity within a viewer, inviting them in for a closer look.

1. Use the Principles of Art and Design

Balance

Balance is the manifestation of weight in a composition. Symmetry and visual similarities between concepts or subject matter all create a sense of balance.
Asymmetry or opposing subject matter can disrupt the balance, creating a sense of unease or potentiality.
Balance can be instilled by the even distribution of an abstract aerial landscape and its features throughout a frame. Each part contributes to the sum of the image as a whole.
Imbalance occurs when a subject is visually ‘heavier’ than the rest of the image, de-emphasizing other elements of the composition to create emphasis or movement.

Rhythm

Subjects in a space dictate the way our eyes bounce from one point of interest to the next. This relationship between subjects delineates rhythm.
Subjects in proximity fast-track the viewing process. Subjects that are spaced out slow down the reading of an image, stimulating intrigue and reflection.
In abstract aerial landscape photography, a lack of objective subject matter generally engenders a slower rhythm. The inclusion of brighter colors, sharp angles or even abrupt camera movement can stimulate a faster rhythm.

Pattern

The human eye is wired to seek out pattern. From urban sprawl to natural landscapes, pattern sorts the visual world into regulated posits of information.
In abstract aerial landscape photography, curating pattern requires a holistic approach. Cavernous lines etched into the earth become a pattern when viewed from above.

Emphasis

Tied to the focal point of an image, emphasis capitalizes on our response to certain visual stimuli over others.
The human eye is naturally attracted to highlights. By incorporating areas of bright color within an abstract aerial landscape, a photographer gives visual priority to particular points in an image over others.
Leading lines, texture and space are other tools that can be used to generate emphasis.

Contrast

Rough against smooth, light against dark, contrasting subject matter garners energy and variation within an image.
Photographing the natural transition between the land and sea or capturing fields regulated by different colors are two examples of incorporating contrast into abstract aerial landscape photography.

Unity

Defined as a state or quality of being one, unity describes the visual relationship between the elements of art and design.  In photography, unity cultivates elements that work together towards a common goal.
The act of photographing abstract aerial landscapes is unifying in concept. Incorporating repetition, alignment, proximity or contrast also creates a visually unified photograph.

Movement

Movement refers to the path a viewer’s eye takes through an image. By taking advantage of naturally occurring features in an abstract landscape (such as line and color), visual pathways are created within an abstract aerial landscape.

Conclusion

Abstract aerial landscape photography creates images that inspire and intrigue. An aerial photographer can depict the essence of an abstract landscape without relying on the objective subject matter.
Whether you decide to buy a drone or fly in a manned aircraft, capturing environments from above is a great way to depict a unique perspective of the world.
Happy flying!

What You’ll Need for Abstract Photos

Unlike other types of photography, colored paper photography doesn’t require a lot of unusual tools. It’s likely that you already have most of these at home.

The Necessities

• Different colored paper – choose colors that complement one another so that your photos look visually appealing.
• Metal clips – these will help you hold the paper in place.
• A bright source of light – this can be either artificial or natural, depending on your concept.
• A macro lens – if you don’t have one, you can use your smartphone camera. Most smartphone cameras today have macro features.
• Weights – these can be books, cups, and anything that can hold your paper in place.

Optional Tools

These will make the shooting process much easier.

• A tripod – this will help you avoid taking blurry photos.
• A remote – this is another helpful tool that will prevent unnecessary motion blur.
• Tape – clips and weights, the tape will hold your paper in place if you need to create specific shapes.

First, Make Sure Your Camera Is Ready

You’ll need to organize and tape your colored paper to make it look good. You might even need to hold your paper as you take photos. Set up your camera beforehand to avoid stress.
Use a tripod to safely hold your camera as you shoot. You can also use a remote to take photos from a distance.
If you need extra help, ask a friend or family member to hold the paper for you. This can become a fun project for both you and your loved ones!

Create a DIY Studio Using Weights, Clips, and Tape

A colored paper studio is very easy to make.
Create the main background by putting up a sheet of colored paper. You can stick it to a wall or lean it against something solid, like a thick book. This will cover background distractions.
Then, create different layers by putting the colored paper in different parts of your frame. You can roll them up, fold them, etc.
Experiment with different shapes and layouts.

Lighting Tips for Colored Paper

For the best results, take photos next to a large window on a bright day. If it’s too bright, draw the curtains or shoot a little farther away from the window.
If there are too many shadows, use a reflector to give your paper a natural boost of light.
You can also use artificial light. The advantage of using artificial light is that it can be changed and controlled as much as you like. Unlike natural light, it won’t fade at the end of the day.
Make sure you pay close attention to your white balance when you work with artificial light. Too much warmth or coldness will alter the paper’s color and make it look unnatural.

What Camera Settings Should I Use?

Experiment with Different Apertures

There’s no right or wrong when it comes to the aperture in colored paper photography.
If you want every part of your photo to look sharp, use a small aperture, or large f-number, such as f/22.
Typically, a sharp abstract photo will make it more difficult for people to understand what’s going on in your photo. Some photographers prioritize this to make all the elements in their photos blend together and create a surreal look.
If you want to focus on a specific detail in your image, use a large aperture, or small f-number, like f/1.8. The larger your aperture, the blurrier your background will get.

Use a Combination of Auto and Manual Focus

Once your aperture is set, you have to decide whether you’ll use autofocus or manual focus.
If you use the right autofocus points, you’ll be able to have a quick and smooth photoshoot.
If you place different layers of colored paper in front of your camera, it might get confused. It might focus on the wrong detail.
If getting the right focus isn’t your priority, you can freely use autofocus.
Manual focus will take more time and effort, but it will provide you with the sharpest results. You’ll be in full control over your images and freely focus wherever you like.

Ideas for Colored Paper Layouts

There are many creative ways to take photos of colored paper. Here are a few popular methods you can use to improve your abstract photography.

The Rainbow

You can create a rainbow-like pattern (similar to the one in the photo above) using a few sheets of colored paper. Unlike an open book, you’ll have to hold the paper on both sides.
Use a metal clip to hold all the sheets at the bottom. Then, spread them out carefully and hold them in place using weights on each side.

Tents

You can create triangular shapes by clipping the paper at the bottom. You can also use a metal clip to hold the top of the sheets to prevent them from spreading.
For an even more colorful effect, hold two sheets together (as pictured above).

Rolled Up

To achieve this effect, roll up a few sheets of colored paper. Place them in different parts of your frame.
If you want to be extra creative, experiment with different shapes and colors.

Conclusion

Even though the colored paper isn’t often used in photography, it’s a great way to improve your abstract photography. You’ll learn to make the most out of simple objects.
Using a few sheets of colored paper, you can take surreal and abstract photos that look like incredible gallery pieces.

What is Abstract Body Photography?

Abstract photography covers a wide gamut of styles and techniques. It’s also known as non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography. But it can be a little tricky to nail down.
Abstract photography conveys emotion without relying on the depiction of obvious subject matter. Through compositional rules, abstract photographers skew, re-emphasize or deconstruct an image.
Photography of the body explores the way we visually relate to ourselves and others. Abstraction takes out the problems of the rigid subject matter.
A viewer can experience a unique study of the body as an abstract concept in itself.
An abstract photograph of the body may delineate a recognizable feature. But the emphasis shifts from the body as a familiar physical structure to that of an impactful form of art.

Paint With Light to Emphasise Forms

Light is the driving force behind all photography. Abstract photography of the body shows the play between light and the physical form.
You can use either a studio or natural light. The point is to sculpt the subject material, creating emphasis and form.
Light is a changeable resource. Artificial light has a different color temperature than a natural light source. Depending on the location and time of day, natural light can behave in different ways.
Light can also be soft or hard, again depending on the light source.
In abstract body photography, these variables come together. They investigate the materiality of the body as an interactive canvas.

Go Black and White to Remove Distractions

Abstract and black and white photography are similar. They both cultivate a sense of distance between the viewer and the image.
Most of us see in color. So black and white photography denotes a sense of surrealism. The photographer places greater emphasis on the distance between the photograph and reality.
The greater the distance, the more impetus the viewer has to bring their own meaning to a photograph.
Removing colorful clothing, ambient lighting or color temperature gets rid of the distraction. Through this, black and white photography renders a sense of timelessness.
This connects a viewer to the image without depicting times and places that age or date.
At the same time, black and white photography creates a greater sense of depth in an image. By rendering an image in greyscale, the subtle tonalities of light are more visible.
These connect elements within a frame where color would create separation.
Black and white is used in abstract photography of the body. The combination of timelessness and depth helps create a dynamic image.
It offers both a study of the body and frames it as a concept of its own.

Add Movement to Create Timelessness

Much of photography is based around freezing movement. Abstract photography embraces the visual qualities of motion.
Incorporating movement into photography of the body condenses physicality into a single photographic frame. And it creates a record of the body over a given amount of time.
Intentional camera movement (or ICM) is the deliberate movement of the camera. It’s done over the course of a long exposure. ICM cultivates a sense of materiality. It communicates the artistic processes of a photographer to an audience.
Combining ICM and abstract photography also introduces a layer of voyeurism. This traces the active body under the gaze of the lens.
Motion blur depicts the movement of a subject during exposure. However, motion blur is distinct in that it relies on the movement of a subject to convey an image.
Motion blur speaks to the nature of physicality through time and space. It does this by documenting the quality of a moving body.

Photograph Tattoos for More Creative Body Photography

Try incorporating tattoos into abstract photography of the human body. You’ll create a visual study of culture and tradition.
Tattoos are heavily influenced by the experiences of the wearer. Use this to articulate a sense of history in an image.
Each tattoo marks an ongoing story. It provides an intimate insight into the visual impact of the human experience.

Change Your Perspective to Add a 3D Feel

Perspective describes the nature of a subject within in a photographic plane. But a great deal of the world is experienced at eye-level.
The use of a unique perspective can give a 3D feel to a 2D subject. Perspective imbues a sense of physicality in an image. It plays with our perceptions of space and our sense of place.
A bird’s eye view of a subject creates tension but also feeds curiosity. A ground-up perspective amplifies scale, making the viewer feel smaller in an environment.
The camera lens itself also acts as a door, dictating the entry point of the viewer. A telephoto lens pushes the foreground and background together.
A fisheye or ultra-wide angle lens warps perspective in the center of the image. It makes a central subject seem bigger.
Perspective orients a viewer within a photograph. You can use these tricks in abstract photography of the body, to emphasize form or texture.

Use Lines to Emphasise the Structure of the Human Body

The visual integrity of the body is dictated by line. The line separates a subject from its surroundings. This creates a buffer between the body and the environment.
By isolating the figure, the body is defined in space. This definition delivers impact, shape, and form.
The line also constructs the inner structure of the body. Look for the natural lines of the body, such as the curvature of the ribs or the extension of the hands. These lines invigorate the tangible qualities of the body in an image.
Line forms visual paths, focal points, and frames. When used as an anchor, line hitches the image to a seam which creates balance and divides space.
Horizontal lines convey a sense of rest and balance. And diagonal lines foster an impression of movement and depth.

Bonus: Photograph Animal Bodies

From axolotls to zebras. Abstract photography of the body isn’t limited to the human form. People have been photographing animals since photography was invented.
You can try abstract photography of animal bodies too. Include close-ups of colorful feathers, fur patterns or beautiful animal eyes.
It can be a challenge though. Many animals don’t take direction as readily as human subjects
Focus on compositional tenets such as texture, line, and color. This creates abstract studies that speak to the nature of the physical body.
Just make sure it’s as fun for the animal as it is for you photographing them!

Conclusion

Abstract photography of the body creates a study of our own physicality.
Photographers can explore the nature of human and animal forms. You’ll create beautiful images that speak to the character of life itself.
Abstraction emphasizes or deconstructs an image. It relies instead on a viewer’s innate responses to visual stimuli.
When combined with abstraction, photography of the body and nude photography explores the way we visually relate to ourselves and others.