If I could tell you there’s something that can be done that will relax your mental state, block all unwanted thoughts, and can last for hours on end, would that pique your curiosity?
While photography isn’t an art form meant for everyone, it is something anyone can readily do with the advances of mobile devices. And while I may be referring to using a proper camera in this post, don’t think that you can’t do this without one. After all, how does the old adage go?
“The best camera is the one you have with you.”
As a photographer of many genres including events, nature, and landscapes, there are two forms that I can rely on that allow me to leave stress behind and enjoy the act of photography: abstractions and minimalism.
Abstractions
Creating something that cannot be identified at first glance may not be the hardest thing to do, but to create something that is pleasing to look at and grasps one’s attention and keeps it there for a period of time is the challenge.
In my case, I create abstractions by panning my camera during a long exposure. It’s that simple. The key is knowing where and when to do this to create art that you—or someone else—may actually want to hang on the wall.
When I look at some of the abstracts that I have created over the last few years, I can stare at them for a long time trying to decipher what each part of the frame might be, as the composition and treatment change the overall mood of the image. A mix of vibrant colours will boost your mood while softer hues may soothe them. Contrasts in texture further play a role in changing one’s mood. All of this combine to evoke an emotional response in the viewer. Deciding on what kind of response I want to create is exciting to me. Sometimes I don’t even know what will come out until I actually take the photo, which further adds to the excitement of creating this art form.
For the most part, I create my abstractions by the lake where I can see the horizon, and I like to make them during the dawn and sunrise hours. It’s the best time to create beautiful and colourful abstracts.
I encourage you to try this out wherever you may be in the world. Go to a lakeside or an open area with a visible horizon and try panning your camera with a slow shutter speed (about 1/8th of a second). It may not turn out the first time, but continue and experiment with the shutter speed, panning speed, and where you’re panning, until you get something that you find pleasant to look at.
Minimalism
The second form that allows me a short escape from reality is finding minimalist compositions. While I enjoy minimalist nature scenes, you can definitely challenge yourself to find minimal compositions within the city. If you look, it’s out there.
With minimalism, composition is critical in making it right. Because you don’t want extraneous elements busying the frame, it’s important to find the right balance of elements within the image. Once you find this, you need to consider the balance in colour, lighting, and textures within the frame. This may not be easy, but it’s this challenge that I love. And when you find something that works, the sense of satisfaction makes it all worthwhile.
I love the process of trying to find a minimal composition because once I find a spot that I think is right, trying to make it work can take a very long time. But likewise to the process of taking abstractions, once I find the right minimal composition, the excitement and contentment fill me with endorphins and I’m able to temporarily forget any stressors.
The next time you venture out, don’t forget your camera—phone or not. Be conscious of your surroundings and see if you can take any pleasing photographs that you may want to hang on the wall. Your walk may last just a little bit longer if you do.
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