Abstracts Abound

One of the many enjoyable aspects of photography is finding the beauty of abstraction in the most unlikely places. In my mind, visual art is abstract when it uses color, shape and line to draw a pleasing work that does not reference a specific reality. And "abstract" is not a "thing." And sometimes the thing becomes the abstract.

Here are two abstracts that are such "found" items. And they are part of very specific things. Many modern buildings feature collections of reflecting windows -- mirrors, if you will -- that tend to blend the building with its neighbors. This one in Anchorage, Alaska reflects another building in an interesting way. The other abstract is from an interesting fountain in The Chicago Botanic Garden, featuring a line of water jets with one jet out of sync.

Finding such abstracts is always a high point of a photo shoot. Abstracts can also be generated by post-processing magic. We will look at a couple of these in the next post.

Backtrack to Anchorage

Image seen all over Anchorage, July 2008

Thinking back on the first few posts, I realize I was in such a hurry to depict Mt. McKinley that I skipped over our day in Anchorage. A bit rain-spattered, the city was so attractive and the people were so friendly that I really could have started here. So today we will cover the only true city in the huge state, population just over a quarter-million. And a wonderful place for an Alaskan adventure to begin.

Imagine a colorful skyline, lots of buildings whose windows act as mirrors to one another, and an in-city river lined with fishermen pulling salmon out of the water one after another. Imagine, too, a wonderful, thought-provoking museum on the history of the state, from Seward to the pipeline. And imagine two adjoining lakes, attached with canals, on which boats are not allowed. Of course boats cannot clog up the lakes -- they form an airport for the many Alaskan private planes.

A great place to visit and I have it in mind that I would actually like to visit again -- in the winter. That might be one of the unfulfilled list items, only time will tell. But last week it was more than 50 degrees warmer in Anchorage than it was in Chicago.