Beyond the Literal: Unveiling the Abstract in Your Day


The world around us offers much more than the unobservant eye can see. Frequently, we are caught up in the big picture and overlook seeing what is right in front of us. So, that is what Ritva proposed to us this week: “We need to explore and expand to create something new.” In brief, she wants us to look at abstracts, such as the collage photos I used in the header above.

I have been photographing abstracts for a while. The genre is not something I always pursue, but it is often in the back of my mind when walking, biking, or sitting at a restaurant. My mind is just conditioned to seeing what is not so obvious. I have posted a few examples of abstracts in previous posts, including ICM, orbs, mirror images, and others. I’ll try to explore and create a few new things.

This may look like corrugated material, but upon close inspection, it was just the sand under my feet as we strolled the beach in Port Aransas.


I like photographing everyday things that lead to abstract images instead of creating them during post-processing at home. I like to see what you see here through my viewfinder.

What comes to your mind when you look at this image? First off, this is a color image and not converted to black and white. I captured gray skies reflected on the water puddle on a small corner of a canvas tent. The tiny droplets may look like mercury, but they are water.


By slowing down and being more observant, we can see much more. Sometimes, while attending races at the Circuit of the Americas, I sit and look around while waiting for another event to occur, as in the preceding image.

This image may resemble a drone photo of a remote village with circular housing structures and a river running through it. In reality, though, it is lichen on a tree. Lichen is a fascinating subject for abstracts. I love doing lichen macros to see what is revealed beyond the naked eye.


Light is another fantastic source that can create exciting abstracts. Here are three photos where light is the main attraction. The first photo is a wall I often see when visiting a restaurant a few miles from here. The building installed blue lights along the ceiling, creating a tunnel-like light path. For the middle photo, I rotated my zoom lens fast while facing a windmill in our backyard. The third photo was captured during a hike by a creek in a city park. The bedrock created the ripples that were accentuated by light and shadow, forming an abstract resembling the letter X.


Although I often create abstracts on camera, I also enjoy playing with images in post-processing. The one you see on the left is a composite of a macro flower shot that I exported to Photoshop to create its vertical mirror image. The result was utterly unpredictable to me but very pleasing to my eye.

Finally, I will share a recent image I captured on a bike ride. It was mid-afternoon. As I rode over a bridge, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful sunlight coming through the guardrail. I had to go back and photograph the abstract the sunlight had created.

I hope these images will give you some ideas about how to look around your world. Be sure to also check out Ritva‘s excellent post with images and suggestions. Please leave a comment on her original challenge post and use the hashtag “lens-artists” in your post.

Last week, Donna‘s challenge truly rocked our world. I had fun seeing the various posts and beautiful images you shared.

Next week, I will host a new challenge. I hope you will check it out on Saturday. I look forward to your participation. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.


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0 Responses

  1. Brad Volz
    | Reply

    Lovely examples of abstract images Egidio. I particularly like the windmills, lichen, and guardrails.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Brad, thanks for your kind feedback. I’m glad you liked the photos. Thanks.

  2. Marie
    | Reply

    Absolutely love the guardrails. It makes you dizzy if you look at it too long.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Marie, thank you for the feedback. Yes, the guardrails turned out well. By putting the camera close and eliminating distracting elements around, the abstract nature of the image was emphasized.

  3. Master pieces!
    Love x files and blue moon! 🌚

  4. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Wow, Egidio, awesome abstracts. I really liked your last image and the tree. You are right, we don’t often look for possibilities of something different while we are out on a photo outing.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Anne, reading your comment makes me very happy. I appreciated the feedback.

  5. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Una piacevole collezione di forme e colori. Ben fatto! 👏

  6. Photos by Jez
    | Reply

    An absolutely amazing set of abstracts, Edigio 👏 I also find bike rides are a great way of seeing things that most folk don’t!!!

  7. margaret21
    | Reply

    These are marvellous. I particularly like the lichens, and the X in the sand.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Lichens are wonderful subjects. Thanks for your kind words, Margaret.

  8. These are lovely, the canvas tent is very abstract. The lichen is just beautiful the colors are so vibrant, a painting. The flower shot is a delicious color fiesta. And the last one is such a mystery to look at – I would not know what it is by looking at it, mission accomplished

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Ritva, I love photographing lichen. A macro photographer friend of mine got me hooked on them. One day, I’ll probably put other photos I got of that guardrail to show more of it. For that photo in the post, I got very close to the rails to avoid distracting elements around. Thank you, Ritva.

  9. Tina Schell
    | Reply

    Terrific abstracts Egidio – the closing image is fantastic! I also loved the X – good eye on that one. They’re all wonderful – obviously you’re not new to this game!!

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Thank you very much, Tina. That closing image was putting into practice what a teacher once said: fill the frame. As for X Files, I go walking along that creek so often that I can see those gems from time to time. Thanks for the compliment.

  10. boromax
    | Reply

    These are excellent! Every one of them frameable. My favorite is the guardrails.

  11. Ingrid
    | Reply

    Great advice … ‘slowing down and being more observant’. I’ve been trying to do that lately and notice the little things. Beautiful collection of images.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Ingrid, I guess it takes some getting used to slowing down. Sometimes I go on hikes or rides and only carry my macro lens. That forces me to look at the small world. Thank you for your feedback.

  12. Wind Kisses
    | Reply

    I always look forward to the challenges through your lens, Egidio. The rainy tent was a great find and aside from that, attending events at Circuit of the Americas must be fun. I love the way you described your lichen photo, like a drone image of a remote village. Definitely appears that way. Lichen truly does bring the abstract, and also a life of its own. Lichen macros could be studied for days, couldn’t they? And the last image of the guard rails had me stumped before I read. I can see why you went back. A pleasure.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Donna, your encouragement is always captivating and strong. Thank you so much for your lovely words. Each photo has its own story. The rainy tent, for instance, happened because I was at my seat waiting for the next race and had nothing to do. Well, until I brought the camera eyepiece to my face. Lichen is a wonderful subject to photograph. There’s always so much detail. The guardrail was a classic example of filling the frame. Thanks, thanks!

  13. Cee Neuner
    | Reply

    What marvelous abstracts for this week. 😀

  14. JohnRH
    | Reply

    WOW. Outstanding! Finding the unique in the sublime! Well done.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      John, your comment brought a smile to my face. Many thanks!

  15. Leanne Cole
    | Reply

    When I look through your images I keep seeing things I could try. Great abstract images Egidio.

  16. Shelley
    | Reply

    Your lessons along with your photos are so educational and inspiring. I’m sitting here sipping my coffee, scrolling through the fascinating images and feel your wisdom light up the screen while you share your photo tips and tricks. It FUNgi kind of fun when you made the lichen village come to life. The image that you created with the flower looks almost like a mystical diamond ring. Well done!

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Shelley, your kind words are a perfect start for my day. Thank you so much for the compliment.

      • Shelley
        | Reply

        You’re welcome!

  17. solaner
    | Reply

    Well done, Egídio 😊

  18. restlessjo
    | Reply

    The rotating lens is an interesting idea, Egidio, and I love the last shot. Great powers of observation.

  19. Sylvia Bacon
    | Reply

    These are amazing pictures, Egidio!! I especially like the lichen on a tree (multiple colors and patterns) and your use of light! Beautiful selection.

  20. SoyBend
    | Reply

    I liked your photo of sand, Egidio. It’s amazing what patterns you can find in nature. I also liked your mirror image of a flower. Cool!

  21. photobyjohnbo
    | Reply

    You are a master of the in-camera abstract, Egidio! I tend to play in post processing. It looks like I should try in-camera. Your choices are excellent examples.

    • Egídio Leitão
      | Reply

      Thank you, John. It’s really not hard, but at times you go through a lot of rejected photos to get the one you wanted.

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