Abstract Photographers

Andreas Gursky

Andreas Gursky was the first abstract photographer that I began to look into. Gursky's photographs are abstract in a sense that he looks for lines, and patterns within a landscape or urban environment. This photographic style results in wide angled intricate photographs which feel alive. I am fond of his photographs because they make me want to go into that landscape and know what makes up that landscape. I want to see all the hidden details within his work.

Jonny Briggs

Jonny Briggs was someone that I discovered whilst I was searching for abstract photographers that abstract their photographs using digital tools.  Briggs photomontages a series of photographs together which creates a surreal abstract image. 

Ola Kolehmainen

Ola Kolehmainen is an internationally distinguished photographer. He is known for him minimalis and close-ups that depict details, surfaces and patterns of architecture. Modern architecture has been his main inspiration for over a decade. Rather than photographing soley buildings, Kolehmainen is interested in finding the fine details, and makes the viewer question the way the building is perceived.

Andrew S. Gray

Andrew S. Gray is a photographer based in Northumberland. He was inspired by the subtle landscapes, coastlines, and nature itself within the place he grew up. His style and technique developed from an accidental trip whilst holding his camera. After looking back on this image he searched for other photographers who photographs are similar in style. It was around this time where he stumbled on Valda Bailey's photographs which went on to inspire his way of working. He abandoned "reality" of photography and instead used old English painters from the 19th Century along with later impressionists as inspiration. 

Jackie Ranken

Jackie Ranken is a multi award winning landscape photographer from Australia. She has over thirty five years experience within the visual arts. She learnt and developed her craft by working within the photographic industry as a darkroom technician, freelance and sports photographer, wedding photographer, commercial photographer, and photojournalist. Ranken believes that the only way to perfect and develop you style is to keep making work and practice. This is something that I agree with but also need to work on within my own art practice. She combines her art practice with teaching and is a presenter in workshops and seminars internationally. Her photographs are monochrome and are often zoomed in which helps her abstract her images. 

Project Notes

Editing Notes

These notes consist of chosen images that I have taken through to editing. These are considered my strongest images per photography session.

Photography Notes

Millennium Gallery

Richard Bartles: Nomadic Tales

Whilst I was out on my trip to Sheffield making photographs I had decided to take a look at what was being displayed in the Millennium Gallery. The majority of the exhibitions taking place were historical based rather than art. The only exhibition that I found to be interesting was the Nomadic Tales by Richard Bartles. The pieces on display are large scale paintings inspired by Siyah Kalem's miniatures. Each piece features graffiti, architecture, political street art, faces and objects. The exhibition was interesting to walk through and was a breath of fresh air for me. The exhibitions that I usually look at are photography based which helps me find new inspiration for my projects. This exhibition make me want to create paintings about my home area and the things that are happening around me.

Sheffield and it's Highstreets

To make up for lost time and lack of progression I had decided to I had decided to go into Sheffield and explore its highstreets. Photographing here was a mixed experience. I was able to find several places where I could capture unique angles, especially when a bus happened to pass. I was also able to capture more reflections in the bus windows due to the narrow streets which were rather similar to Leeds. I did run into some problems however. There were a few times where people stared at me as if I was a complete idiot and strange which I can sympathise with, because I am taking photos of moving buses which is something people don't see everyday. I was also confronted my some teens who laughed. Taking photos using a phone is socially acceptable and since everyone has one of these devices they are not as threatening as a camera with a large lens attached. This session threw off my confidence a bit and made me want to go home nut after thinking about what had happened I felt rather stupid for feeling this was and this is what needs to be challenged. Perhaps in future I should speak to these people and ask for their opinions. 

The images I had collected are better than my previous attempts but aren't perfect at all. I need to get out and explore more in order for me to develop and improve my confidence. 

Drives around South Yorkshire

This series of images were taken whilst I was out on a drive through Barnsley and some of it's surrounding areas, I chose to take these images through a car window because I do spend quite a lot of my time in a car whilst travelling to and from university.  This granted me several opportunities to take pictures which would give me more images to work and develop from. However after looking back at these images I found that they weren't as effective and were often too dark when compared to my first images. This is something that could be worked on however if I chose to make these photographs whilst travelling.

These next following images were taken whilst on my way home from University. I chose to try taking photos whilst in the car again because I wanted to see if I could further improve my technique and take advantage of taking images of as many bus windows I could see. 

This next collection of images were taken whilst I was travelling from Wombwell to Doncaster. 

These outcomes were slightly better but not what I am looking for at all. They are burred and dull which in my opinion is messy. Abstract photography can be groundbreaking and interesting but only when it is done correctly. These images are just about me playing around with how I will make my images. My technique is completely based on chance which is why my images work well as abstract, however when done like this they just show that I am unsure and just making images just for the sake of it. This technique is something that I will be stopping from this point onward because I know that I am not making any progress.