Found Abstracts

 

In addition to the five themed contributions on abstract art photography, it is now time for a final set, for pictures that do not fall under those themes (or at least less clearly). I could have called it "miscellaneous", but I liked the moniker "Found abstracts". What they have in common is that you can encounter these opportunities all around you if you keep an open eye. 

 

Paris patterns (2010)

 

I spotted this beautiful abstract pattern as a decoration on a Paris apartment building.

 

 

Harbour wall (2012)

 

One of my favourites of the first few months in Kampen. This is a detail of the wall of the yachts' harbour. Pure line play, with a particular strong composition. Surprisingly, there is no shadow in the picture, it is all decoration. After a revamp of the harbour wall a few years later, this is no longer visible.

Abstract in rope and shadow (2012)

 

The many ships moored at the banks of the IJssel, in walking distance from our home, opened up new opportunities for abstract shots. This is one of the first I took.

 

 

Volcanic abstract (2013)

 

An example of the possibility to see abstract shots almost everywhere. The stand of the weekly market, set against a blue sky, and with a tree's shadow as extra shape. 

 

Jigsaw (2013)

 

This is a decoration of a Japanese restaurant in Nijmegen. The shells form a distinct pattern which makes for a great abstract.

Something from Nothing (2014)

One of my favourite shots to illustrated how you can create something from nothing. This started out as a drab piece of canal water, but I liked the patterns and hoped that simple post-processing (no photoshop, just picasa) might create something nice. I like it.

Another green world (2014)

 

A plastic green curtain pressed against a window of a house in Kampen. I bet hardly anyone notices it, and yet it makes for a compelling abstract photograph.

 

 

Tristesse (2014)

 

Another variation on the theme of green plastic curtains. Same house, different windows.

 

Found diptych (2014)

I encountered this at an art exhibition. A rusty table used to support an art installation, and a blue carpet under it. Taking the shot like this makes a natural diptych with definite abstract qualities.

 

 

Fifty shades of green (2014)

 

When we visited an art exhibition in Woudsend (Friesland), I looked further than only the art pieces. This shot of leaves through a frosted glass window was better than any picture I took of the art.

Let there be light (2014)

 

Not really zooming in, since this shot represents the largest part of a lamp displayed in the shop window of a local home decoration shop. The competing horizontal and vertical patterns, and the hues caused by the back-lighting turn this into a personal favourite.

Kampen roofs (2014)

 

A deceptively simple shot, but the different shapes and colours of the roof tiles make it very interesting. You can immediately see what it is, and yet the overall effect is abstract.

Rolls (2016)

 

The best in a series of shots of large coils in a transport ship moored at the banks of the IJssel, not far from our home. This one turned out to be the most popular of the series, a nice abstraction with a good diagonal composition. The conversion to black and white is almost mandatory in this type of shot.

Approaching red (2016)

There is some wear and tear here as well, but the big red line anchors the composition. It is the top of a wooden bollard.

 

 

Richteresque (2018)

 

I wanted to take a close-up of the colourful plumage of this chicken in the childrens' farm in Kampen, as an abstract shot. Of course, it moved just at the wrong moment, Still, I like the colours, and the blur reminds me of art works by Gerhard Richter...... 

 

Geometry (2018)

 

A detail of the colourful wall illustrations used in the City Museum of The Hague. There is of course an optical illusion effect as well, as the eye/brain combination tries to translate this 2D piece into a 3D object.

 

 

TP (2022)

Anything can become an abstract if you keep your eyes open. This is a stack of rolls of toilet paper in the restroom of a fish shop in nearby Wezep.

 

 

Pencilmania (2024)

Part of a decoration in an art material shop in Zwolle (shot with permission).

 

 

Copyright statement: all images copyright Hennie Schaper. Contact me if you like to use them.