Photography as a technical process involving the development of film and prints in a darkroom

originated in the early 19th century, with the forerunners of traditional photographic prints coming
into prominence around 18381840. Not long after the new medium was established,
photographers, painters and others began to argue about the relationship between the scientific and
artistic aspects of the medium. As early as 1853, English painter William John Newton proposed that
the camera could produce artistic results if the photographer would keep an image slightly out of
focus.[2] Others vehemently believed that a photograph was equivalent to the visual record of a
chemistry experiment. Photography historian Naomi Rosenblum points out that "the dual character
of the medium its capacity to produce both art and document [was] demonstrated soon after its
discovery ... Nevertheless, a good part of the nineteenth century was spent debating which of these
directions was the medium's true function."[3]

pictorial photograph appears to lack a sharp focus (some more so than others), is printed in one or
more colors other than black-and-white (ranging from warm brown to deep blue) and may have
visible brush strokes or other manipulation of the surface. For the pictorialist, a photograph, like a
painting, drawing or engraving, was a way of projecting an emotional intent into the viewer's realm of
imagination.

1.

Pure photography or straight photography refers to photographythat

attempts to depict a scene or subject in sharp focus and detail, commensurate with the
qualities that distinguish photography from other visual media, particularly painting.
Abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental, conceptual or concrete
photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association
with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment,
processes or materials. An abstract photograph may isolate a fragment of a natural scene in order to
remove its inherent context from the viewer, it may be purposely staged to create a seemingly
unreal appearance from real objects, or it may involve the use of color, light, shadow, texture,
shape and/or form to convey a feeling, sensation or impression. The image may be produced
using traditional photographic equipment like a camera, darkroom or computer, or it may be created
without using a camera by directly manipulating film, paper or other photographic media, including
digital presentations.

If youre searching for an easy but effective abstract photography

technique, selective focus is the technique for you. A narrow depth
of field is achieved by the selection of a large aperture. The camera
is then focused on the center of interest of the image. The rest of
the objects in the image will fade into a soft blur.
There are two things which can be done to make your images even
more notable when utilizing this technique. First, the color of the

background should be different than the center of interest. The

second point is that the center of interest can be made even
stronger by using curves to point toward the center of interest.
Using the interplay of light and shadows can create drama in an
image. Now, some photographers tend to think only in terms of light.
This is a mistake for light is nothing without shadows. Shadows
are not just a lack of light. Instead, shadows function to make the
light come to life. It is the shadows that shape the light, that draw
attention to the light, and that integrate with the light to produce
striking photographic opportunities. This is especially true with
abstract images.
So, what is the shadows role in this technique? The primary role of
the shadows is to help to define the forms. In other words, the
shadows role is to help the forms to stand out. Consequently, it
should come as no big surprise that the more interesting the objects
in an abstract image, the more likely that the image will be
successful. The shadows then function to make the more
prominent.
For instance, the shadows may surround the center of interest so
that the viewers interest is naturally drawn to that point.
When it comes to abstract photography, curves can be utilized with
powerful effect. For this technique to be effective, the curves must
be the dominant characteristic of the subject matter. In a way, the
curves almost become the center of interest.
Curves that display grace or a touch of the dynamic work best. It is
essential that the curves flow together smoothly. Simply having a lot
of haphazard curves running in every which direction will not work.
A technique that is very similar to the use of curves is the use of
texture. In fact, texture and curves are often used together. When
used to create impact in an abstract image, the texture should be a
very strong characteristic of the primary subject in the image.

In addition, the texture must work in harmony with any curves that
are present.
The main purpose of abstract photography and art is to evoke some kind of emotional response from the
viewer. Of course, all photography is subjective and everyone will have a different response to an image.
But thats the great thing about photography, and especially abstract photography. The viewer can create
their own story about the image, based on their own reality, experiences and feelings.
Surreal Photography can often be blurred with Conceptual - therefore Shalora the Conceptual Gallery Moderator has shared this:
"Surreal photography would be more about creating a world or image which goes
beyond the physical world as we know it. It usually shows something which
would be impossible in real life or tampers with the line defining what is
real and what is imaginary. Surreal = beyond the real."
I think personally that this sums up Surreal Photography! Surreal Photography
often involves regular compositions which have been altered by obscuring
something or changing angles and perspectives and so on. The lighting and
exposures are often played with to create ghostly forms and abstract shapes.
Hence the link with Abstract Photography.

Solarisation (or solarization) is a phenomenon in photography in which the image recorded on

a negative or on a photographic print is wholly or partially reversed in tone. Dark areas appear light
or light areas appear dark. The term is synonymous with the Sabattier effect when referring to
negatives, but is technically incorrect when used to refer to prints [citation needed].
In short, the mechanism is due to halogen ions released within the halide grain by exposure diffusing
to the grain surface in amounts sufficient to destroy the latent image