Following a suggestion by a former 365 contributor (thanks, Ross) to turn one of my reflection landscapes from Lake McDonald at Glacier National Park into an abstract with one vertical 90 degree turn. This was the result. Interested to see what folks think.
The reflections are fabulous - it's as if you've used a mirror edit to make it. Abstracts are very personal, individual tastes so it's a bit difficult to comment on. I tend to be a bit anal for symmetry so if it was my abstract I think I would chop about one ruler thickness off the bottom. No doubt there will be other people who will love the asymmetry LOL My only other thought would be maybe not a full 90 degree turn - leave it at an angle?? Good fun anyway!!
Not sure about this, to be honest. The colours are great, but maybe you could take a bit more from the sides (less sky) and from the bottom, to make it more hourglass shape ? I think it would look more abstract that way.
Unique presentation! Your color shot shows lots of green trees and some snow. I was there this past August, a few days before they shut down the park due to smoke from the forest fires. We could barely see across the lake so most of our photos were disappointing. Glad you were there when it was in its glory.
Not sure about this Taffy as it’s not quite abstract enough for me and I keep turning my head to see the original wonderful scene. The reflection is magical and looks like you have flipped the shot to give a mirror image. Must have been wonderful to see this landscape!
I have to agree with Pam. I want to turn my head all the time to have a look at this fabulously reflected landscape. For me it's not abstact enough for that reason. Maybe it would have been different if I hadn't had the prior knowledge that it was a landscape?
Interesting idea. Agree with Marloes that if we did not know it was a landscape, we'd have had the fun of figuring it out. I even wonder about cropping at the narrow point to eliminate the trees, leaving a geometrical shape.
I agree with Marloes and Catherine, the prior knowledge of it being a landscape makes you want to turn it, it's the first thing I did too! A really lovely landscape, by the way :)
Wooo, it certainly pays with the mind - very effective! It reminds me of what you see in some of those distorting mirrors in a fairground hall of mirrors.
I have to admit I turned my head too. A few people did this kind of image for the half and half theme a while ago and it didn't work for me then either.
Ha ha !! you didn't kid me !! I also had to turn my head on its side to see the proper picture !! perhaps the colours had been changed it would make it less recognisable !! In spite of this -I like it very much !
It is fantastic, I of course believe that you cannot take a bad picture at Glacier, my favorite National Park. After reading the comments I made myself scroll through the photo, looking at it exactly like it is, it could be many things, it is abstract art - “art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors and texture.” Your photo nails it!
I am with the majority on this one. At first glance I started to appreciate it as an abstract but then too quickly recognised it as landscape and found that knowledge to be a distraction from my appreciation of the abstract. I'm wanting to explore those curves and shapes in the abstract but I cant quite do it. Maybe needs a little more blurring or texture to stop the brain from competing with itself when viewing.
@robz@helenhall@louannwarren@onewing@inthecloud5@redandwhite@stimuloog@jamibann@pamknowler@bintal
Thanks for taking the time to think through the abstract-ness of this, the role of prior knowledge from my earlier posts and description, and the range of interpretations in terms of what constitutes an 'abstract.' I had similar thoughts when I posted it and appreciate the conversation in the thread. I like it enough that if I had a long narrow wall, I'd consider hanging it, but in a tighter version with less sky. I'd keep the trees and maybe even elongate (this was cropped) it further to exaggerate the focal content. But, I suspect it will not see the light of day beyond this post!
The image and the conversation...good one Taffy! Interesting and so personal. I tried turning my head, but feel it works best as presented. I like the top weight with the trees and the image as it is. Like abstracts that make the eyes and brain work. Nifty!
I could also see cropping off the top to just below the trees. Fun play and I agree it would be even better with some of the sky gone and long and thin vertical
Because Glacier Park is in my backyard and is my playground it really is impossible for me to view this as an abstract. I have to turn it and see it as I know it. It is beautiful either way but I prefer it as a landscape.
My first response was to turn my head, but as I studied the image it grew on me. I like the lines made by the trees at the top and the effect of the many shades of blue.
Interesting perceptive, love the blending of colour working it's way to the center. And if you start from the top it's like the ground bursting forth a massive spray of water. Wow can't look anymore there's too much information and I'll get carried away. LOL. FAV
Thanks for taking the time to think through the abstract-ness of this, the role of prior knowledge from my earlier posts and description, and the range of interpretations in terms of what constitutes an 'abstract.' I had similar thoughts when I posted it and appreciate the conversation in the thread. I like it enough that if I had a long narrow wall, I'd consider hanging it, but in a tighter version with less sky. I'd keep the trees and maybe even elongate (this was cropped) it further to exaggerate the focal content. But, I suspect it will not see the light of day beyond this post!
big fav