Abstract photos

Abstract Photography uses unconventional colors, shapes, angles, and blur to convey a feeling, emotion or sensation. Browse our collection of high-quality abstract photos and experimental art - HD and free for commercial use.

abstract wood chips

Abstract Wood Chips


abstract image of blue and orange lines curving

Abstract Image Of Blue And Orange Lines Curving


black and white view of abstract structure

Black And White View Of Abstract Structure


face shapes

Face Shapes


leading lines a holey walls

Leading Lines A Holey Walls


window pattern in white building

Window Pattern In White Building


abstract triangles of red orange and blue

Abstract Triangles Of Red Orange And Blue


cascading ripples in the water

Cascading Ripples In The Water


orange smoke bubbles off a flower

Orange Smoke Bubbles Off A Flower


rain drops illuminated on window

Rain Drops Illuminated On Window


textured channels in dry sand

Textured Channels In Dry Sand


a white silky flower spills white tendrils of smoke

A White Silky Flower Spills White Tendrils Of Smoke


metallic-looking flower petals enveloped by pink smoke

Metallic-Looking Flower Petals Enveloped By Pink Smoke


close up of the pocket of lite blue jeans

Close Up of The Pocket of Lite Blue Jeans


wet pavement reflects a building and city night lights

Wet Pavement Reflects A Building And City Night Lights


brown tree branches and abstract leaves

Brown Tree Branches And Abstract Leaves


ripples in red waters

Ripples In Red Waters


colourful light creates bokeh

Colourful Light Creates Bokeh


patterned tunnels on the concrete wall

Patterned Tunnels On The Concrete Wall


close up of lite blue jean fabric

Close Up of Lite Blue Jean Fabric


creamy billows of smoke in a lilac space

Creamy Billows Of Smoke In A Lilac Space


bare trees and tall brown grass

Bare Trees And Tall Brown Grass


long exposure on a moving escalator

Long Exposure On A Moving Escalator


sunrises under a stone bridge creating a pink sky

Sunrises Under A Stone Bridge Creating A Pink Sky


a white building with beige windows

A White Building With Beige Windows


abstract image of blue white marbling

Abstract Image Of Blue White Marbling


sky view of a river and the shoreline

Sky View Of A River And The Shoreline


abstract image of orange lines

Abstract Image Of Orange Lines


biking through an underground structure

Biking Through An Underground Structure


close up of jean fabric

Close Up of Jean Fabric


urban reflections

Urban Reflections


a pattern with a cement staircase

A Pattern With A Cement Staircase


dark tunnels within a tunnel

Dark Tunnels Within A Tunnel


triangle made of round circles

Triangle Made Of Round Circles


brown building with winding staircases

Brown Building With Winding Staircases


curved metal and glass window

Curved Metal And Glass Window


city light creates colorful lines

City Light Creates Colorful Lines


orange colors of cascading ripples in water

Orange Colors Of Cascading Ripples In Water


bubbles on the water

Bubbles On The Water


abstract waters on bed of rocks

Abstract Waters On Bed Of Rocks


blue and orange lines create a wavy pattern

Blue And Orange Lines Create A Wavy Pattern


abstract marbled colors in pink and purple

Abstract Marbled Colors In Pink And Purple


hand reaching to light leaks

Hand Reaching To Light Leaks


rain drops on a bright window

Rain Drops On A Bright Window


side of white building with windows and black balconies

Side Of White Building With Windows And Black Balconies


leading lines in an underground tunnel

Leading Lines In An Underground Tunnel


side of a building with no windows and a fences shadow

Side Of A Building With No Windows And A Fences Shadow


close up of a laptop keyboard and screen

Close Up Of A Laptop Keyboard And Screen


glass building reflecting the clouds above

Glass Building Reflecting The Clouds Above


droplets of water in a sink

Droplets Of Water In A Sink


Start a business

Most everything you need to get started — photos, suppliers, and more

Inspiring, High-Quality Abstract Art and Digital Photography

On Abstract Photography

Abstract Photography is a unique and diverse genre of digital art. Sometimes called non-objective, experimental, conceptual or concrete photography - abstract photography is very unrestricted when it comes to stylistic elements. In general, the genre aims to depict a stunning and beautiful image that isn’t something that can be perceived in the real world.

This can take a number of forms. In some cases, a photograph might aim to capture motion in a single image through the use of blurring. Other techniques include using special cameras that are able to perceive sources of light that are invisible to the human eye (such as infrared cameras). Other popular techniques of abstract imagery include macro photography (photography producing photographs of small items in a larger than life size) and digital photography techniques and filters.

With other forms of photography, things like exposure, shape, motion and the composition of the image are more rigid - because the photographer is trying to capture an image in all its real-world beauty. However, with abstract art - there’s a lot more room to creatively play around with these tools. The abstract artist may choose to tinker with an audience's sense of time and space in a number of ways. They may choose to isolate a fragment of a natural scene - removing any context to the viewer or they might stage a scene to create an unreal imagining of an object through use of unconventional light, color, shadow, texture, or shape that conveys a feeling, emotion or sensation.

Blur the Line Between the Real and Fantastic

For some photographers - the urge to abstract comes naturally. Knowing how to be abstract is about knowing how to strip context away from a scene and still convey the feeling, sensation or moment of that scene. Think less about the object itself and what it means in-context and more about how the lines and colours of the object make you feel.

Curve, Color and Shape

When it comes to abstract photography - the way the lines and shades of an object play off of each other are the most important. Everyday items are built with a certain practicality in mind - so in general, the function takes precedent over the design.

When you’re taking abstract photos - you’re essentially stripping an item down to its bare essentials and re-designing it. Zoom in on the object and look at it from unique perspectives. Find shapes and lines that play off each other and give you a feeling that goes beyond the context of the object itself. Force yourself to look at the object in a new way and the need to abstract will come naturally.

Tips & Techniques for Experimental Photographs

1. Macro Photography

This is a type of photography that makes use of extreme close-ups. Macro photography is not always abstract, but generally zooming in close to an object will help you to see the object as a collection of lines and shapes playing off each other rather than an object as whole. This will help when trying to convey an image of the object in an abstract manner.

2. Be Experimental

Abstraction is not about viewing objects as they appear and following photographic guidelines. Don’t be afraid to shoot out of focus, blur subjects in motion, and use unconventional lighting and angles.

3. Go Digital

When working in more concrete genres - post-production is mostly confined to a rigid set of rules that help to give the image the best focus possible. With abstract photography - there are no such rules. Play around with extremes in levels and saturation and feel free to alter colours and shapes. Don’t get discouraged if it looks odd at first - play around with it and have fun! Remember, it’s called experimental art for a reason.