“Abstraction demands more from me than realism.
Instead of reproducing something outside of me,
now I go inward and use everything I’ve learned
thus far in my life.”
- Susan Avishai, Canadian Artist
“The abstraction is often the most definite
form for the
intangible thing in myself that I can clarify
in paint.”
- Georgia O’Keefe, American Artist
Abstract
photography has become an important part of my practice. By focusing on a telling
detail, dissociated from its larger reality, I find a freedom and visual joy
that is not always present in my landscape or portrait photography. Besides which,
it’s great fun zeroing in on a bizarre or beautiful bit of something without having
to contextualize it. As my dear husband would say, “Woohoo!”
Which leads
me to the abstract photography workshop I recently took at Fleming College in
Cobourg. Professional photographer Cindy Taylor (link) skilfully took her six
students on a journey through the theory and practice of abstract photography,
culminating in a luxurious two-hour photo opportunity at Cobourg’s incredible
Legacy Vintage Building Materials. (link) What an amazing store! An absolute dream
for photographers.
With the
exception of one photo, all the photos that follow come from that photo
session. Not all of the images are fully abstract, but they are mile posts on
the journey. The only photo that doesn’t come from the workshop is the yellow
pillar, which I found hiding in the basement of Bridge Street United Church on
Sunday.
I hope you
enjoy the images. As always, I welcome your feedback.
