All posts tagged as abstract

26 Jul

Red Hot- Lahinch building

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / July 26, 2016 / 0 Comments

This is one of those ‘Marmite’ photographs; people could either hate or love it. It’s the back of a building in Lahinch, county Clare on the West coast of Ireland. The dark brown part of the photo is the top of a waist-level wall in front of the building. What do I like about the photo? As you probably know abstract photography is my favourite style and for this photo it’s the simplicity of the photo and the straight lines.

I enjoy spotting a scene that others overlook; most people that walk past this location probably wouldn’t glance twice at the (very) red rear of the building, yet alone stop to photograph it.

Red abstract

06 Nov

Vinyl Record Photographs

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / November 6, 2015 / 0 Comments

I own a macro lens, love music so recently I wanted to try photographing the grooves in a vinyl record. So I bought a Columbia long play vinyl record in my local charity store and brought it home to begin photographing it. Unfortunately I realised that when viewing macro photos of the grooves that you can spot dust/static build up EVERYWHERE. As I don’t have an anti-static record cleaning brush I decided to focus on the packaging & also take some abstract photos of the vinyl.

In the first two photos I wanted to show the care that is needed with vinyl; most young people nowadays have probably never held a vinyl record so these guidelines would be alien to them. The first photo shows the vinyl is old; the text is beginning to fade, the record cover is wrinkled and creased.

Handle With Great Care

Vinyl record sleeve Handle with great care

Vinyl Collage

vinyl collage  
 

Vinyl Abstract Photos

Abstract is my favourite style of photography so I had to try to capture some abstract photos and am very pleased with these results. In the first vinyl abstract photo I went for a very minimalistic look, turned the vinyl to pitch black while saturating the colours to make the photo pop.
 

Minimalistic Vinyl

Columbia vinyl record  
The last vinyl abstract photo is my favourite, maybe because it’s the most abstract and colourful. I set the shutter to 1/2 a second and panned the lens across the vinyl grooves. In post-processing I played around with a few settings to obtain the colourful effects. For some people this could be an awful photo but I love it.

Colourful Vinyl Abstract
colourful vinyl abstract

10 Jul

Galway Fringe Festival

In a. Galway by admin / July 10, 2015 / 0 Comments

Galway City is in the running to be the European City of Culture in 2020 and would be a wordy winner I think. In the summer Galway really comes to life with multiple festivals; The Galway Races, Galway Arts Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, the Galway Fringe Festival and more. Galway Fringe Festival
The Galway Fringe Festival is a multidisciplinary Arts Festival encompassing visual art, music, theatre, dance, literature, cabaret and events and runs from July 11th to 27th inclusive. The beauty of the Fringe Festival is that it’s an open access festival, meaning that everyone is welcome to participate and perform.

I’m proud to announce that I have an exhibition in this years’ festival. Seeing as Galway is in the running for the European City of Culture I decided that Galway would be my theme. As abstract is my favourite style of photography I couldn’t leave it out so there’s a mix of Galway and abstract in my photos. My exhibiton
will be on display in Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Road.

01 Mar

SAP Walldorf Architecture

In k.Buildings & Architecture by admin / March 1, 2015 / 0 Comments

SAP Walldorf Architecture

SAP SE is a German multinational software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. SAP SE headquarters are in Walldorf, Germany and is home to over 14,000 employees in multiple buildings.

In this set I wanted to reduce the buildings to simple lines and patterns. The first photo (SAP building 21) provides you with an idea of what some of the buildings look like; the rest are somewhat abstract but still striking. By converting the photos to black and white removes further distractions and allows you to simply appreciate the simplicity of the lines and patterns. Run Simple is the new slogan of SAP and these photos do ‘run simple’.

SAP Walldorf building 21

SAP Walldorf abstract architecture

SAP Germany building

SAP Walldorf

SAP Walldorf walkway bridge

SAP Abstract

SAP walkway

SAP abstract architecture

SAP architecture

SAP Walldorf building 1

SAP building Walldorf

SAP Walldorf buildings

SAP Walldorf building 19

20 Jan

Galway Bay Seascape abstract

In a. Galway,b. Abstract/Arty by admin / January 20, 2015 / 0 Comments

This seascape abstract photo mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I’m guessing that a lot of people will think it’s dull and drab. But some people might really like it; I do anyway. It’s a slightly long exposure (1/40 second) photo of a small wave, the water in Galway Bay and an overcast sky. I was hoping for a sunny day so I’d have a bright blue sky, blue water and capture a bright photo; this is the opposite.

So, why do I like this seascape abstract photo? The simplicity and serenity; I find it extremely calming as there’s nothing to grab your eye’s attention. The straight line near the top of the photo and the line of the crest of the small wave create a pattern of kinds. It reminds me, very vaguely of Rhein II by Andreas Gursky (which at $4.3 million, was the world’s most expensive photo for a period of time). You can own Galway Bay Seascape Abstract for over 1/100,000 the cost!

seascape abstract

05 Jan

Looking back at 2014

In l. Text by admin / January 5, 2015 / 0 Comments

So 2014 has come and gone; while not extremely active it was still an enjoyable photography year for me. Originally my photography website was a simple WordPress blog, which I called Eclectic Images. The title conveyed my photography style (or lack of); capturing anything and everything, having no favourite style. Last year I was browsing through my database of photos trying to select which one to submit to Amateur Photographer magazine and realised that my abstract photos appeal to me the most. I enjoying both the challenge of attempting to capture something differently or uniquely and also how my abstract photos stand out from the norm, which makes them more memorable.

Which brings me to my highlight of 2014- having my work featured in Readers Portfolio section of Amateur Photographer magazine. Amateur Photographer magazine is the world’s best-selling, longest-running consumer weekly photographic magazine and every week the feature a selection of photographs from a reader. In July I was fortunate enough to have some of my abstract photos showcased:

Amateur_Photographer

My sister-in-law got married in September and I was honoured to be asked to photograph her and Garrett’s big day, below is a small selection. I’m hoping to photograph some more weddings in 2015 so if you know of anyone getting married…..

IMGP6469

IMGP6748

IMGP6887

IMGP6728

IMGP6984

Lastly, here are some of my favourite photos from 2014:

On holidays in Cambrils Park, Spain there is a beautiful fake lighthouse. This photo captures many of my preferred photography styles; slightly abstract, the simplicity and calmness of the scene and a pattern in the colours:

Cambrilis lighthouse

I captured this photo at the ‘Croke Park Classic’ American Football match with saw Central Florida (UCF) take on Penn State University. I used a long shutter speed to create this abstract photo of the players looking like ferocious balls of energy:

abstract_american_football

I really love the happiness and emotion caught in this one; you can almost hear the women shrieking with joy!

IMGP6846

This makes me smile every time. It was taken at a communion and ‘Time Out’ would be the perfect title. The girl had a fantastic day but here she’s having a little rest.

communion

I’d like to wish everyone a great 2015; please come back to visit my website, leave a comment if you like a photo in my blog or even buy a print for yourself or as a present for someone.

01 Dec

Satun or a Light bulb and Lampshade Abstract

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / December 1, 2014 / 0 Comments

On a recent stay in The Marker Hotel I was having a relaxing lunch with my wife. I excused myself for a moment, picked up my camera (of course it was by my side) walked over to an empty table where an overhanging light and lampshade caught my eye. I experimented, capturing several photos from underneath. This abstract light bulb photo is the result.

Abstract Light

11 Oct

Inverted Skyscraper

In b. Abstract/Arty,k.Buildings & Architecture by admin / October 11, 2014 / 0 Comments

The photo below is window cleaners washing a skyscraper in Barcelona, Spain. By inverting the photo I think it transforms the photo into something peculiar that challenges you and makes you wonder for a second what the picture actually is.

Skyscraper Window Cleaning

03 Oct

American Football Abstract

In b. Abstract/Arty,h. Sport by admin / October 3, 2014 / 0 Comments

An abstract photo of UCF (University of Central Florida) taking a kick against Penn State at The Croke Park Classic at Croke Park, Dublin in September.
American football has a lot of fixed formation and lineouts. By using a slow shutter speed I managed to make the players look like a moving blur but also managed to capture the sense of power and speed.

American Football Abstract

04 Aug

Lighthouse

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / August 4, 2014 / 0 Comments

Taking a photo of the lighthouse in it’s entirety and surroundings it’s exactly my style; I prefer more abstract. For this photo I was really drawn to the calmness of the clear blue sky and how the colours of the lighthouse complemented the tranquility.

This was taken in Cambrilis Park, near Salou in Spain on a family holiday.

Cambrilis lighthouse

03 Apr

Abstract Chairs

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / April 3, 2014 / 0 Comments

Most of the time scenes, objects to photograph are obvious and everyone can spot them; the beautiful landscape, a stunning building etc. I don’t have any one particular style of photography, I tend to photograph anything and everything that cathes my eye. I do seem to enjoy finding something less obvious and capturing it.

I think this abstract photo of a stack of chairs is a good example. They were stacked under a doorway somewhere in the Albert Docks in Liverpool. I like the patterns created and how a simple stack of chairs can become something abstract and worth photographing (to me anyway.)

abstract

26 Jun

Abstract bubbles (Green Day)

Up until now I’ve thought that I didn’t have any preferred one style of photographs. People ask me what type of photographs I shoot and I’d always say an eclectic mix/anything and everything that catches my eye.
I enjoy photographing my kids, trying different sports (rugby- very enjoyable, soccer- much more difficult than I anticipated, boxing- difficult to position yourself in ideal location), urban, architecture, patterns, urban and many more.

But while looking through my favoured photographs on my computer I began to notice that there is a trend; a lot of abstract photos. I’ve found that I often try to take a ‘new’ photograph, meaning that most items have been photographed thousands of times and the vast majority look very similar. So by trying to capture something in a new/different way it makes my photograph somewhat unique and more memorable. And it’s also a challenge to me which I enjoy.

This is a photograph of bubbles in a pink plastic bowl. The initial result was mundane but by inverting the colours it changes it to a very different photograph; to me it looks like cells under a microscope.

Green Day

Post title Green Day is the name of an American Rock band

18 Jun

hundreds and thousands (Colors and colors)

A photograph of baking food ‘hundreds and thousands’.

Up until now I’ve always said that I don’t have a favourite style of photogrpahy. But more and more recently I’ve noticed that my favourite photographs seem to be abstract photographys. Which to me is beginning to make sense. I’ve also mentioned that I often try to take a photograph from a different perspective. Why? Most ‘common’ photographed items (landmarks etc.) are shot from the same spot and look very similar so none of them really stand out from the crowd. So, by photographing from a different perspective makes it more memorable and unique I think.

Or maybe it’s just that I don’t get out to photograph as often as I’d like to so I sometimes end up around my house with my camera looking for things to photograph and think what could make a good photo. Like this container of hundreds and thousands; I lay them out on a flat baking tray and like the result. I think it’d look even more impressive on a large acrylic print on my wall.

colours

Colors and colors are lyrics from the catchy song ‘Colors’ by Hot Chip

02 Jun

Inverted Coloured Straws (Cherry Coloured Funk)

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful by admin / June 2, 2013 / 0 Comments

A bunch of straws turned into an abstract photograph by inverting the colours of the photograph.

colors abstract

Cherry Coloured Funk is a song from the album Heaven Or Las Vegas by the magnificent Cocteau Twins. I think the colours in this photography vaguely match the abstrct colours on the album cover Heaven Or Las Vegas.

20 Feb

Galway Hooker Sculpture Abstract (Blackbird Fly)

In a. Galway,b. Abstract/Arty by admin / February 20, 2013 / 1 Comment

I’m always drawn to the Galway Hooker sculpture in Eyre Square, Galway. I like the rustic look of it and the straight lines and very sharp angles. These are two abstract photographs of the Eyre Square sculpture with a crow resting on it.

eyre square abstract

Galway Hooker Statue

Blackbird Fly is a song by The Beatles, taken from the album The Beatles, a.k.a. The White Album

11 Jan

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / January 11, 2013 / 0 Comments

Playing with my macro lens,water, a few drops of olive oil and washing up liquid. Afterwards I added a filter.

bubbles macro

13 Dec

Christmas Lights

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / December 13, 2012 / 0 Comments

This is an old photo (2010) but it’s nice for a Christmas posting so I’m re-posting it.
It’s a very simple photo but shows how you can achieve something different by just playing around with your camera.

Oh Christmas lights
Light up the street
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas lights, keep shining on

Christmas lights is a song by Coldplay.

05 Dec

Abstract Water Reflections (Time Stands Still)

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / December 5, 2012 / 0 Comments

Always look for something differnet.
These abstract water reflection photographs were taken on the Boards.ie Photowalk in Dublin at the beginning of December. We were walking through the lovely Stephen’s Green in Dublin and I noticed the colourful reflection of the trees in the water. Stephen’s Green is a great nature escape in the center of Dublin City and is worth a stroll to have a break from the rush and busy city center outside.

Water Reflection

I didn’t know which one I prefer so I posted two photos

Time Stands Still is a song title by the Irish band Something Happens.

17 Nov

Galway Beach Abstract (Sand and Sand)

In a. Galway,b. Abstract/Arty by admin / November 17, 2012 / 0 Comments

I was walking on Renmore/Ballyloughane Beach in Galway today and brought my camera along with me. I ended up taking some photos of the ripples in the sand which looked quiet nice I thought.

Ballyloughane Beach

Galway Beach Abstract

 Ballyloughane Beach Galway

I noted that PetaPixel website have an article featuring ‘Seascape’ photos by Jakob Wagner, which are very similar to mine.
Sea and Sand is a song title by The Who.

14 Aug

Bad Moon Rising

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / August 14, 2012 / 2 Comments

I’ve never managed to get a ‘close up’ shot of a full moon that I’ve been happy with, never managed to capture the details that I’ve seen in some people’s photos. So the last time I saw a full moon I tried something different, just some camera shaking. I was suprisingly happy with the result- an abstract full moon

Post title is the title of an album by Sonic Youth and also a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Take your pick

26 Apr

She’ll Carry On Through It All, She’s a Waterfall

In b. Abstract/Arty,f. Nature & Sky by admin / April 26, 2012 / 0 Comments

I’d just like to post an example of a ‘before and after’ photo, aka editing.
I was wandering around lovely Westport early morning last weekend and strolled along the picturesque river and stopped at this mini-waterfall.

I thought there could be a nice photo in it somewhere to took a few photos, some with slow shutter speeds. This was taken at 1/20th of a second but the initial result was a bit plain/standard.

So I did some basic editing in Picasa 3. I know I should be using Lightroom or Photoshop but haven’t found the time to study either yet. And I find that Picasa 3 does a good job. I know there some features and presets in Lightroom that I’d like. Someday, I keep telling myself, I’ll buy and learn/study Lightroom. Someday. Another confession- I don’t shot in RAW. Ever.

Anyway all I did with this photo took less than 5 minutes and I ‘framed’ the finished result as I think it’d look nice on my wall. Steps were crop, apply 1960’s effect and add the frame.

Post title is taken from ‘She’s a Waterfall’ by THE Stone Roses.

20 Dec

I’m So Dizzy, My Head Is Spinning

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / December 20, 2011 / 0 Comments

Just mucking around…

19 Sep

Orange Wedge

A slightly abstract photo of the Galway Hooker sculpture in Eyre Square, Galway. The sculpture on its own looks odd, just a load of red/orange metal bits stuck into the ground. But when you realise that it represents the sails of a boat/ship then it’s something that you can put into context and it stands on it’s own as a piece of art representing old Galway.

25 Apr

Around the world, around the world

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / April 25, 2011 / 0 Comments

Abstract water drops. It looks vaguely like a map of the world I think

01 Apr

Wise Men Say Only Fools Rush In (Ireland vs. Macedonia UEFA Qualifier)

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful,h. Sport by admin / April 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

I tried my hand at a few abstract photos at the recent Ireland vs. Macedonia game in Dublin.
One reason is because I was sitting far away from the pitch it limited the amount of ‘proper’ sport action photos that I could take so I though I’ll try something else. I have three photos here, the first one is my favourite, I feel that it kind of convays the burst of energy when Robbie Keane is sprinting for the ball.

Exposure 1/6th of a second to achieve the blurry effect

The last two aren’t even that good I think but I’m just posting them anyway to show what I was trying to do with them. If I could have zoomed in on a player closer and kept him sharper/in focus then I think they’d be better.

Ireland's goalkeeper about to lauch the ball forward

Goal mouth action

01 Dec

Lost In Music

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful by admin / December 1, 2010 / 0 Comments

I should have removed the The Police cd. It’s not mine. Honestly. No, really, it isn\’t

colourful music

08 Oct

My Heart is an Apple

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful by admin / October 8, 2010 / 0 Comments
Abstract Red apple

Originally this was a macro photo of an apple. But the result wasn’t very sharp. So I messed about with the photo and this is the result

13 Jun

Run, run young man (Galway Triathlon)

In a. Galway,b. Abstract/Arty,h. Sport by admin / June 13, 2010 / 0 Comments
Blur runnint

A swimmer getting ready to stop and change over for the cycling leg of the Galway Triathlon.

05 Jun

0-0 After Extra Time

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful,h. Sport by admin / June 5, 2010 / 0 Comments

24 Jul

Electro-Shock Blues

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / July 24, 2009 / 0 Comments

About to hit warp speed

06 Jul

It’s Black, it’s white (Water reflection under bridge)

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / July 6, 2009 / 0 Comments
I like this, just the way it looks like an abstract painting.

I like this, just the way it looks like an abstract painting.

24 Feb

Big, big, big, big, big

In b. Abstract/Arty,d. People & Animals by admin / February 24, 2009 / 0 Comments

24 Feb

Heaven or Las Vegas

In b. Abstract/Arty,g.Colourful by admin / February 24, 2009 / 0 Comments

This is my attempt of a rough copy of ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’, a dreamy album by The Cocteau Twins. The technique is called ‘camera throwing’, literally throwing your camera in the air on a slightly long exposure.

24 Feb

Our Window

In b. Abstract/Arty,c. Macro & Flowers by admin / February 24, 2009 / 0 Comments


Half frozen water drops on my car window one morning. I keep a compact in my car always ,comes in handy for shots like this.

24 Feb

Motion Sickness

In b. Abstract/Arty by admin / February 24, 2009 / 0 Comments