Quick Tips for Capturing Abstract Objects and Shapes

Hi, I'm Ian Plant, managing editor of Outdoor Photography Guide. And I'm coming to you right now from the beautiful Falkland Islands of South America. Having a strong creative vision is critical to making great photographs, and the best way you can do that is learn how to see visual elements in the scene, not for what they really are, but rather as abstract artistic elements. For example, right now, I'm overlooking the ocean and there's a channel in the rock about 20 or 30 feet across, and the waves are coming in and out. And in this channel, attached to each side are these long strands of seaweed, these giant pieces of kelp.

It looks like a thousand green snakes undulating and weaving together. Every time a wave comes in, these pieces of kelp, they interact and they form these interesting shapes and swirls that are constantly changing as the waves move in and out. So I think it's gonna make a really powerful photograph, so I'm gonna get to work. Because the subject is moving so much and because the patterns are constantly changing, it makes sense for me to make as many shots as possible until I get what I want. Yeah, this is really amazing.

The waves just keep pushing in and out, and the shapes of the kelp constantly change. So stop being so literal. Learn to see objects as abstract shapes, colors, and artistic forms. When you start doing that, you can transform even a mundane scene, like seaweed, into great photography.