EARTH IN ABSTRACT
Read More
I love abstract photography; those photo's that make you stop and then wonder, "What's that?" I'm always on the lookout for the absurd, the unique and the undefinable in everyday nature; it leaves me with a sense of curiosity and wonderment in all that I observe. The "art" in photography however is much more than capturing what I see; it's first in observing beyond a first glance and then composing it in an artistic manner. Have fun exploring, you too will find hidden artistic abstracts.
When we buy art, its usually a piece that caught our eye or one that changed our state. Art can take us away from the present moment and instantly change our mood from the mundane moment to bliss, calm, or even one of melancholy. The subtle softness of this image provokes a sense of calm and peace and it’s not demanding of the viewer’s attention, yet its uniqueness captures our attention. Be sure to view this image in the "Sampled" section. There you'll see how beautiful this image is hanging in a room.
The "Desert Agave" grows in the lower elevations of the Sonoran and Majavi deserts where it is hot and dry. The leaves have a distinct cyan/bluish tinge and are quite thick, and can grow up to 27 inches in length. The pronounced teeth along leaf edges are dark-tipped, a third of an inch long, and like most agave the underside of each leaf bears a permanent imprint of the teeth from the once underlying leaf (created when the two were growing together). The black tips are really sharp so you don’t want to back into one by accident (!), as I found out not long ago when I recently transplanted one ....ouch! I cropped this photo so that it leans (if you will) towards an abstract view; notice how I’m only showing part of agave. I love the flow (the diagonal and horizontal lines), the “teeth” and subtle colors. This photo would look great as a stand alone statement piece or blend well with a busier desert photo.
This, is MY FAVORITE photo to date.... but admittedly my favorite photo is always my latest one; or the one that’s still in my camera :-) I love panoramic images; especially those with repeating patterns, like this image. As I drove around the Coachella Valley (south-west California) I marveled at the date farms, and how the trees were in such perfect lines That said however, I didn’t find a date farm planting that I thought was “perfect”, so I left the valley "empty handed". I hadn’t driven but an hour when I notice this planting and how the slope of the land made all the tree trunks (from front to back) visible. “Perfect!”, I said to my dog Arlo! Yes, I talk to him as he listens with a tilted head… lol. You may ask, “What makes this image work?”, and why did I choose this one, out of all the images I took. With my camera in hand, I carefully I placed the widest and brightest separation of trees off to one side. I chose to include a separation (so that your eyes would be drawn into the image) but I had to consider balance and the weight of the image too; the heaviness of the fronds, the size of the date trees and how much foreground too. Together, these elements make this image outstanding ….in my humble opinion… :-) NOTE: This is a 3-image stack; meaning 3 horizontal images have been stitched together in post processing to create this format. That said, this image is HUGE and will easily cover the length of any wall.
"Winter's Beauty Rest" In -38F (-39C) weather, I ventured out in the comfort of my Jeep, on some snow drift covered prairie back roads in search of “cold” images. Not only was it cold but the wind was incredibly piercing too! I was enjoying the sun filled day when this scene caught my eye. I loved how the highlight of the snow defined the branches; thankfully there weren't any leaves blocking the tree trunk and branches. Both my camera and my hands don’t work very well in those frigged temperatures, so I didn’t doddle! I love how abstract photography makes you look more intriguingly and inquisitively at it an image. The "art" in abstract photography however is much more than capturing what I see; it's first in observing beyond a first glance and then composing it in an artistic manner. Mother Nature produces some of the best abstract art!
I spent Christmas in Desert Hot Springs (with some dear friends) and although I wanted to travel home to my family I had to considered the implications; my tightening time frame (to the set up of the Arizona Fine Art Expo) and then of course, the threat of covid exposure. One of the most visually interesting things in Palm Springs are the 100's of wind turbines that cover the valley floor and hillsides; my objective here (besides Christmas!) was to get some "signature" shots of the Coachella Valley. It was late day when I noticed a sudden weather change so off I went, to my pre-planned photographic destination. With my tripod firmly anchored in the desert sand and my camera focused on a grouping of wind turbines, I suddenly noticed a change in overall color, and then I noticed why.... and you might say I changed my "focus"! The first thing I noticed was the complimentary colors of the hillsides and then I noticed the matching colors of the sky! "Really!" I exclaimed to myself! I was SO excited! It was (truly) so thrilling to witness this! I'm sure though, that most people wouldn't have noticed the colors of the hillsides but I'm so color intuitive that they "screamed" (lol) at me! With little time to spare, I removed my camera from my tripod, switched lenses and hand held this shot. I wanted a high quality panoramic shot of this scene so this photograph is actually comprised of three shots (that I later stitched together in post production). Sure, I didn't get the shots of the wind turbines I wanted but I got this shot instead; which made my day!
Over the years I've grown to appreciate and love all art, and it occurred to me one day that art is so much more than my personal taste or a first impression but that there is an "art" to observation. To stop and look beyond our first impression we see the subtleties in the details and gain greater appreciation. That said, when I approach a scene (or peace of art), it's more about how I see the scene than my first impression. This photo is a prime example. At first, I only noticed the vivid pink leaves (!) but with an intent to observe, I noticed a beautiful blue truck was parked behind the trees, which resulted in this myriad of color.
I visited beautiful Bryce Canyon (in the southern state of Utah) on a brisk and stellar February day. It was truly an amazing day to say the least, and having never been there before I was in utter “Awe”! I was not only lucky to arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall too! Everywhere I looked the colours seemed saturated, especially in contrast with the shadow cast snow and the high altitude, deep blue sky (the rim is 8000 - 9000 ft. above sea level) . Albeit very cold (-5C, 23F) and very windy, we hiked to the valley floor below, were it was surprisingly warmer, I even peeled off our jacket! On the climb back up I happened upon this view and knew it would make an amazing abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot as you see it. There were trees above the snow line however I chose not to include them in the shot. Notice the the colours! The snow in the distance is purple-blue in color (drawing from the blue sky). The brilliance of the orange and yellow sandstone was the result of reflective lighting from where I stood (I was standing on a vertical ledge and the sunlight bounced back off the wall of the ledge below me). Did you notice that the sun highlights the lip of the yellow sandstone? It's exactly what I looked for when I shot outdoor portraiture. I thoroughly enjoy abstract photography; I hope this photo leaves you wondering, “What is it and where is it?”.
Death Valley (California) is known for extremes; it is North America's driest and hottest spot with fewer than two inches/five centimeters of rainfall annually and a record high of 134°F. It too has the lowest elevation on the continent (282 feet below sea level) and yet is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney (at 14,505 feet) and two hours west of Las Vegas. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. What a sight to see! There's a 2.5 mile loop trail that leads you through gullies and gulches, however because of our time restrictions, we weren’t able to explore it. We’ll have to go back!
"Antelope Canyon Color Explosion”
Antelope Canyon is a slot Canyon situated on Navajo land; slightly south-east of Page Arizona. There are actually two canyons; the upper and lower Antelope canyons. The southern upper canyon is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, which (at certain times of the year), produces beautiful beams of light inside the canyon. Lower Antelope on the other hand, is much smaller at the bottom, and wider at the top. On this day, we chose to enter the upper canyon. To view the canyon, we had to purchase a tour. The tour took us on a 2-3 mile open jeep ride through a sandy wash and to the entrance of the Canyon. Once there, we were split into groups; luckily for us we were in a tiny group. We were assigned a vern informative guide who explained that the sandstone canyon was created by years of erosion and flash floods. These flash floods he said, can be deadly so they watch the weather forecast closely. It was a sunny day in February when we visited, and it had been nice for days so we didn’t have anything to worry about. That said however, although we thought we’d see the beams of light that enter from above, we didn’t. Unaware of the sun and canyon’s orientation, we discovered they are only visible from the end of March to early October. Oh well, regardless it was amazing! We left feeling blessed with the intimate experience of this, one of Mother Earth’s greatest treasures. In reflection, I remember how thrilled we were to have shared our day and how pleased we were with our photographic memories too; including this photo. We had a blast!
“Rise from the mud and bloom out of the darkness” …unknown author. I had taken some photos of lily pads before and then I realized afterwards that I really hadn’t paid enough attention to the varied colors. So, when I stumbled across these lily pads I took a moment to study the colors, and not just the lily pads but the reflective blue sky and the shadowed darkness as well. Then I considered the patterns, and asked myself, where does my eye enter the scene and where do my eyes want to settle? This is called flow, which is a very important artistic element in this particular photograph because without it, your eyes would endlessly wander. That said, notice how your eyes enters this photo from the bottom left, and then flows and settles on the lilies at the top right.
My favorite time to photograph the Grand Canyon is during the “golden hour”; the hour after sunrise and before sunset. The day we were there however, the colors of the setting sun (and subsequent bounced lighting) were lack luster; so I looked for other photographic opportunities. When I looked across the canyon, I noticed the many layers between foreground and background, I knew instantly that this was going to be a great shot. Notice how dark the foreground is (both in color and in density) then, notice how light the far-off mountains are (also both in color and density). What I love most about this photograph are the the many layers, the contrast and the vivid colors!
I love seeing the "earth in abstract"; with eyes that see so much more. When I view Mother Nature's gifts I see beyond a glance.... I see lines, repeated patterns, mixed patterns, vivid colors (obviously!), textures, unique shadows and lighting, just to mention a few. These natural and unique abstracts often go unnoticed, unless you're looking for them. These colors are just as I saw them however some might think they're too vivid, or perhaps unreal. That said however I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to photography but I am also the artist. If "art is in the eye of the beholder", then I have artistic editing choices to make (and it doesn't matter what other's think). We all have our own personal preference(s) in art. I arrived early at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and although it was cold (well below freezing) I wanted to catch the first rays of sunlight. It wasn't long however before the sun filled the canyon and the warm reflective rays felt so amazing! At 7000 feet the sky was exceptionally blue and the sun was so bright that I could hardly see into the canyon. As held my hand over my eyes to see into the canyon, this is what I saw! Wow! The bright yellow cliff-side was being illuminated by the reflective light from the cliff-side I was standing on, and the early morning haze accentuated the colors within the canyon. I suspect most people wouldn't have noticed these vivid colors but I sure didn't! Wow!
"River Dance" - Bow River, Lake Louise, Alberta I love abstract photography, those photo's that make you stop.... and then wonder, "What's that?". I'm always on the lookout for the absurd, unique and downright weird things (those that will make you gaze in wonderment and puzzlement) and then shoot away! As I walked along the glacier blue waters of Bow River in Lake Louise, Alberta, I spotted this strange reflective formation, it was dancing between the river rock (so intriguing). Notice the rings around the smaller rocks, they add a stronger, more defined element of shape, which in turn enhances the focal point even more. When I was editing this photo, I couldn't decide which way to rotate it!.... but, in the end, what you see here is the way I saw it. This being said, remember YOU are the artist (in post-production), when you're editing your abstract photos. Have fun exploring and looking for things that are out of ordinary; you're sure to find inspiring abstracts everywhere! *I used a larger f-stop (of 11), to ensure the surface of the water and rocks would be in focus.
One late September afternoon, while hiking along the Bow River (near Lake Louise, Alberta), I came across this interesting image floating (if you will) on the river's service. "Floating", you might ask? Well, no... it's actually a reflection of the valley scene on the water's surface. I was in the Rocky Mountains to shoot the vibrant fall colors of the native larch trees however on this overcast day I chose to look for the "abnormal" instead, and found this. What I find most interesting about this photograph are the shapes and contrast of the clouds reflecting in the water, which gives this photograph a painterly style.
One of my favorite types of photography is abstract. Abstract photography can is presented in so many forms but I personally enjoy what I call, “Earth In Abstract”, which is essentially the way I see the earth (in an impressionistic way). As an expressionistic photographer, I hone in on linear lines, repeated patterns, strange formations, unusual markings, bold colors and contrast. Equally important in abstract photography however is its composition and cropping; both of which can “make or break” an abstract. That said, although it may be easier to break some the compositional rules in abstract photography, I do remain committed to my personal photographic boundaries (which makes each abstract photographer uniquely different).
"Calling Me" - “The mountains are calling and I must go.” ~ John Muir For those of you who feel the mountains speak to you, this photo and the words of John Muir (above), need little explanation. I'm truly a mountain girl; IT'S THERE that I feel the very essence of "Romi": IT'S THERE, while surrounded by it's beauty, that I can be my authentic and human self; at peace with my flaws and in admiration of whom I've become. IT'S THERE, that I turn inwards, in reflection of my many blessings. IT'S THERE, with the help and healing power of Mother Nature, that I find my inspiration (creatively and otherwise) IT'S THERE, that I want my ashes to be strewn; WHERE THE MOUNTAINS CALL TO ME.
One of my favorite types of photography is abstract. Abstract photography can is presented in so many forms but I personally enjoy what I call, “Earth In Abstract”, which is essentially the way I see the earth (in an impressionistic way). As an expressionistic photographer, I hone in on linear lines, repeated patterns, strange formations, unusual markings, bold colors and contrast. Equally important in abstract photography however is its composition and cropping; both of which can “make or break” an abstract. That said, although it may be easier to break some the compositional rules in abstract photography, I do remain committed to my personal photographic boundaries (which makes each abstract photographer uniquely different). What I love most about this image is how the background linear lines interact with the opposing grapevine.
You may be wondering why on earth I would I name this photograph “Companionship”, and what does "companionship" have to do with this image? Let me explain.... First of all, this image is what’s referred to as a “minimalist” photograph, which is distinguished by it’s extreme simplicity. Simplistic images tend to focus solely on one subject, and they don’t have any distractions (including colors and tones). They can be abstract, portrait or landscape in nature but they all have one thing in common, they’re simple. I tend to notice trees that stand alone; I consider them as singletones (being single), in the vast beauty of the landscape. I always wonder, “Are they lonely?”. So, when it came time to name this photograph, I noted that there were two trees (not just one). Together, they’re entangled in each others arms; supporting each other, relying on each other and thriving because of their “companionship”. *FYI: this image looks great in a square AND rectangular format.
"Death Valley Dunes" The weather in Death Valley was certainly challenging when I visited it but I did manage to dodge the rain and capture a few amazing shots, including this one. The sand was wet when I took this photo, and the sand underneath was dry, so walking on it was tough (but good exercise!). Look closely and you'll see I wasn't alone; there were two men off in the distance, to the right. I thought the footprints in the sand were interesting; I wondered who they belong to, and what unique stories they all had This image is available in this panoramic format as well as a full format (which includes the mount tops and threatening clouds). I chose however to showcase this panoramic format because I (personally) loved how it added a dimensional quality to the overall abstract nature of this image. #earthoutdoors #wondermore #roamearth #visualsofearth #escapeandwonder #earth_deluxe #allaboutadventures #travelwithleisure #fantasticearth #nomadict #exploretocreate #passionpassport #stayandwander #roamtheplanet #discoverearth #neverstopexploring #naturephotography #naturelovers #earthfocus #artofvisuals #welivetoexplore #deathvalley #landscapephotography #earthpix #amazingplaces #beautifuldestinations #ourplanetdaily #wildcalifornia #deathvalleynationalpark #nationalpark
"Joshua Tree Nightscape" It’s long been known that our cognitive brain health declines as we age and that diet, exercise, sleep, social interaction and mental stimulation can prevent it. As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed the normal changes in my own cognitive function but I hope that as I sharpen photography skills (including night sky photography), will help; I have my fingers crossed! I pre-planned this location earlier in the day (I even marked the spot where I’d stand). With the help of an app, I knew exactly where and what time the milky way would line up with this scene. What I didn’t realize however (until after the shoot) was that the milky way was rather “blah” from that angle; hmmm, so what to do? I decided to learn something new by blending a previous Milky Way photograph with the foreground; the results of which you see here. This now known as a “composite" image; which is an image comprised of two or more images to create one. Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area, not far Palm Springs, California. The high elevation of the park is characterized by it's rugged rock formations, Joshua Trees, “dark sky” landscapes and sunsets. The Joshua "tree" is not really a tree because it belongs to the yucca plant family. They typically grow only in higher elevations (1,300 to 6,000 feet) and grow quite slowly (up to 3 inches per year). They have an average lifespan of 150-200 years but some live much longer.... hmmm, maybe I will too, lol!
