Photography as Abstract – Lines, Shapes, and Snowy Texture
Here’s another of the abstracts I’ve been doing. If you want to see the other images/posts in the series, please click here and here.
When I awoke yesterday, there was snow here in Santa Fe, no more than about two inches, but it was a strange snow for this area; it was wet snow instead of the dry snow that we usually get at this high of an altitude. Since the snow was wet, it adhered to everything and gave great texture, and I was just in heaven when I was out and about with my camera.
As always these days, my eye was searching for shapes and lines and textures, and I came to this wonderful blue-grey gate that had a topping of snow, and I shot this image. The red of the adobe wall behind it just gave the background a wonderful color that really offset the blue well.
Shot with my 35-70mm lens at f/2.8.
Image Copyright © Katie Johnson. All Rights Reserved.
katie's camera blog - Katie Johnson Photography 
Wow.. nice. What is with the red/brown background? Looks cool but unnatural.. 😀 But cool.
The background is the red adobe wall behind the gate. I loved the way it colored the background. That’s the way it looked when I composed the shot. Thanks so much for noticing it. Glad you like the image. 🙂
Wow! The red adobe makes a great contrast. I like it.
Thanks, Sophia! So glad you like this one. 🙂
It looks really nice with the red’ish background. 🙂
Thank you, Dianda. 🙂
It’s beautiful. You’re right, the blue and the adobe set each other off nicely. I can’t believe I’ll be in Taos next week. YAY!
Thank you! And have fun in Taos! It’s usually colder/snowier than here, and of course, it’s gorgeous, so have a wonderful time! 🙂
I really like this one. Just enough snow for me, too!
Thanks, Sandy! Enough snow yes, and it was the kind that stuck on things, and wasn’t melted two hours later, so that was nice too. 🙂
Very beautiful… this one looks really great, the textures and geometrical forms 🙂
Thanks, Filipe!
Oh I’m loving the curve on the fence line with the softness of the snow. And the colors…..great combo
Thank you, Charleen! 🙂
Great photo, Katie. I love that snow on the fence. 🙂
Thanks, Bob! 🙂
Really simple…..lovely photograph.
I must admit, the only snow for me is digital…I hate the real stuff, but this makes even a miserable old ******d like me feel festive …
LOL! Glad it made you feel a bit festive. I have mixed feelings about snow myself, but when it gives me some cool photos, I’ll take it 🙂
This is awesome, Katie! I love the composition and colors 🙂
Thank you, Nicole!
Really like this one Katie – I think it’s the uniformity combined with the softness of the snow.
Thanks, Jude! I love simple shots like this. 🙂
Love it, so pretty!! I miss snow 🙂
You’ll see some over Christmas, right? Glad you like the photo! 🙂
Excellent Katie!
Thanks, Cee! 🙂
Wow – beautiful photography and great eye for composition. I love snow…I had better since I live in Michigan. Great work!
Ah, thank you so much! And thanks too for visiting my blog. 🙂
Love!
Thanks, Adrienne! 🙂
I’m really loving the beauty and texture of snow, frost, icy formations. I’m so looking forward to Winter weather so I can try out the new camera on more snowy scenery. I love this photo with the scallops of the fence. 🙂
Thanks! I’m sure with that new camera (and the long reach of the lens), you’ll have some fun this winter! 🙂
Very well balanced! Beautiful shot, Katie.
Thank you, Marina! 🙂
It looks like a wonderful Christmas time picture… amazing what nature can give us as gifts, if you have the right eye. Well done.
PS – Glad you like my abstracts also!
Ah, thanks! And yes, I do like your work. 🙂
Nice one, Katie. The adobe certainly does provide a nice backdrop.
Thanks, Graham! 🙂
Another great abstract, Katie. There’s a ton of detail in the snow and the wood of the fence that really creates a nice image.
Thanks, Lee. I agree, it’s the texture of the wood and snow (this wet snow) that really makes this image.
Nice!
Thank you! It means a lot from someone who doesn’t really like abstracts. 🙂
I am still waiting for snow here in Vienna … – great capture!
Thanks, Stefan. I hope you get some snow. Vienna should soon, right? I’d love to be there this time of year. 🙂 And thanks for visiting my blog. 🙂
How I miss snow! lovely shot
Ah, I’m glad I could bring you some snow. 🙂
This is a brilliant shot. It’s as if it has formed it’s own landscape; the red behind it is like a sky at dusk and fence is, in fact, snow covered mountains… such a wonderful image.
Oh, how wonderful to see all that in there. What a wonderful comment. Thank you! 🙂
Beuatiful, Katie! I’m heading to Santa Fe this weekend and your images are really whetting my appetite for shooting there.
Thank you! And have fun in Santa Fe! The Plaza has all it’s lights, as does Canyon Road. And the ski area is open (not that you need that, eh? :).
O you got snow! GREAT!! 😀
I love this shot, mainly, for the reasons you have stated. Beautiful, Katie.
Please post more snow photos, abstract/non-abstract. I would love to see more! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Ah, thank you, Nandini! The thing with snow here, is that it doesn’t last long, especially in the pretty state. But more shots will surely follow. 🙂
I’m with you on this one Katie.. I too am always looking for shapes, angles and not to mention gorgeous light..
Ah, yes, light! To me that is the most important thing in my photography. Glad you mentioned that Helen!
Love this. Would look great on a Christmas card. And funny, I’ve been eyeballing weathered fences lately, thinking mmm…what could I do with a photo of those? Background? or find something through a knothole? I don’t know yet. But I like this shot a lot with the snow topping. And the adobe wall in the background does give it a nice coloring. Well done!
I love fences with their lines and textures. I’ve been taking lots of photos of them. And so glad you like this image. 🙂
You’ve done it again! Nicely shot, great colours, wonderful composition (Rule of Thirds: excellent!). Well done Katie! Your abstracts are terrific!
Why thank you so much, Steve! 🙂
Aww! I like it! It hasn’t snowed yet 😦 Hopefully it will soon so I can take some pics! 🙂
Thanks, Jenna! Hope you get some photos soon! 🙂
such a simple scene yet so beautiful…I´ve recently relocated to Madrid from Toronto and I´m not sure if I´ve yet to miss the snow. But this image sure makes me miss photographing it! Great work!!
Thanks, Joey! Yeah, I like snow for the photos ops, and a little bit else, but I don’t want lots of it. 🙂 I’d take Madrid any day. 🙂
I grew up in North Dakota (so I’m not the biggest fan of snow), but this is really very lovely!
I would imagine, growing up with as much snow as you’d get in ND would change the way you feel about it. 🙂 Glad you like the photo!
Good one, Katie. I like these stripes and their textures.
Exactly. Thanks, Syncy! 🙂
Love the dark burgandy background. Well observed Katie.
Thank you, Malcolm! 🙂
I love the color tones, lines and textures in this. I don’t see you on Google+ so i shared a link to this blog post there, so that photographers on Google+ can experience your work.
Feel free to share my photos on Google+, as you’re right I’m not there. Thank you! Glad you like this photo, Wayne! 🙂
This is what my boys want for Christmas!
Hope they get it, Jennifer! 🙂
I’ve just nominated you for The Liebster Blog Award
http://ceeslifephotographyblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/the-liebster-blog-award/?preview=true&preview_id=955&preview_nonce=47185415fb
Thank you so much, Cee! Truly honored! 🙂
Snow is great on anything…so pretty. Great shot as always Katie.
Mmm, interesting thought there. Have to think on that one. 🙂 Glad you like the image!
Sweet! I love all things snow, so this does it for me.
Wonderful! 🙂
Nice shot, and I like the white crystals against the grainy grays, Sally
Glad you noticed that Sally. I don’t think I would have taken the photo without the snow doing what it was doing. Normally, it would have just been an even line, and that would have been boring to my eye. Great comment, Sally!
I really Like this!! I am expecting a “little” Santa Clause to go sleighing across!!
Oh, now that would be fun! I’ll have to go check on Christmas Eve! 🙂
Snow! 🙂 Its pretty how it sits so nicely on the fence tops for you. 🙂 Nice shot!
Thanks, Cin!
hi katie–i don’t always leave comments, but i rarely miss your posts and they never fail to charm. enjoy the rest of your week & weekend!
Ah, thank you so much. What a nice compliment. So glad you like my photography.:)
I love this one
Thank you so much and thanks for visiting my blog too. 🙂
Lovely color and shapes in this photo! I keep thinking there is a slight curve in the wooden planks, but it’s hard to tell for sure. Great, interesting shot, Katie!
Not sure on the curve. I don’t know if I could find that gate again to be honest. I never noticed it before, and I was on a walk I take all the time. Glad you like this image, Jenna! 🙂
SImple and beautiful. Love it as always!
Thanks, Cindy! 🙂
Great shot Kate. I really like this.
Thanks so much, Edith. So glad you like this one. 🙂
I like the way the vertical grain of the upper layer of boards contrasts with the horizontal grain of the lower board, with the beautiful snow separating them…and the snow-scalloped effect on top — simple and beautiful!
I agree with all that, Susie. Glad you noticed those things about it! 🙂
Once again, a great abstract shot – love that deep rich brown against the blue-grey of the fence. I like the wood grain lines contrasting with the soft shapes of the snow.
Thank you, Victoria! 🙂
I love everything about this photo – shapes, colors, textures…
Ah, thanks you so much! 🙂
Really like the texture of the snow and the shape.
Thanks, Jane! 🙂
Lovely! Still waiting for the first hint of snow around here, so it’s nice to see some here – especially in such a nice composition! : )
Ah, glad I could show you some snow, and so happy you like the image. 🙂
Katie, you can keep the snow down there. We don’t have any in Iowa yet and I am fine with that.
Great composition. The lines interact well with each other and draw you through the picture.
We do need the snow/moisture, so we’ll keep it, Matthew.:) So glad you like the composition too. 🙂
Beautiful image… Thank you dear Katie, with my love, nia
Thanks, Nia! 🙂
Such strong horizontals…. Reminds me of Rhein II!
Wow, I’ll take that, Zorgor! You know I like that one. 🙂
This is very beautiful. The red and textures of the snow and wood with the strong lines make this one grab me.
Glad you can see all that. That’s exactly what had me stopping to take the photo! 🙂
Beautiful shot! I love the way you’ve captured the delicacy and softness of the flakes.
So glad you like this one. 🙂
Very nice Katie. Simple composition with lovely shallow depth of field!
Thanks, Mufidah. I really like this one for it’s simplicity, but still a lot of interesting.
hello from brazil, good!
Thank you! And welcome. 🙂
Like it – LOTS!
Thanks, Tootie! I love this image. 🙂
Great lines.
Thank you!!
Thank you. 🙂
Nice! 🙂
Thanks, Tracy! 🙂
I really like this one, Katie. Very nice. 🙂
Thanks, Robin! 🙂
WITH so many comments – it can only be a repetition: SUPERB composition, I love the structures of the wood, the white snow and that NICE red background!
Thanks, Truels! I LOVE this image. 🙂