DAY 144

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Abstracts in Nature

ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL?

Reviewing pictures from a nature walk usually reveals identifiable icons, such as a trophy buck, a blooming flower, or a stream flowing through snow-covered banks. Some photographers, however, opt for a different approach. They look for abstracts in nature, pieces and parts of a scene that catch their eye, and may not be easily recognized. A close-up of the inside of a flower, leaves scattered on a path, or reflections of the sky and marsh grasses in a rippling stream are examples of photos that are pleasing to the eye but slightly offbeat.

Shooting abstracts in nature is no different from any other type of outdoor photography. Use the basic skills of exposure and composition—but most of all, use your imagination. —WTD

Photo © Bill Diller.