10 WAYS TO CREATIVE BLISS

More routes to abstraction

16Multiple exposures

Use your camera’s multipleexposure mode to overlay images on top of one another as you shoot, or combine shots in editing software.

17 Solar power

Made famous by artist Man Ray, solarisation renders part or all of a shot as a negative. It’s easy to achieve in software, and is a great abstract technique.

18 Learn to light-paint

Move a light source around your frame while shooting a long exposure to literally paint with light – a technique with loads of potential.

19 Enforce limitations

Abstract is an incredibly broad genre – focus your creativity and shoot with intent to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the possibilities.

20 Shoot the mundane

With some creativity, boring everyday objects can be turned into mesmerising abstract artworks. Experiment and see what happens!

21 Make a collage

Use layers, Adjustment Layers and Blending Modes in your favourite image editing software to overlay images and textures to create a digital artwork.

22 Don’t focus...

Use very shallow depths of field or deliberately throw everything out of focus to create blurry abstract shapes, which can suggest all sorts of concepts.

23Get closer

Using a close-focusing optic, such as a macro lens, to magnify a subject will obscure its form and turn it into an abstract where the shape matters more.

24 Soap bubbles

Use a macro lens to shoot the surface of soap bubbles to capture colourful planet-like orbs. Play with colour and cropping in software to add abstraction.

25Add a blurry barrier

Shoot through frosted or water-dropletcovered glass to capture distorted lights and shapes – easy and effective.