Abstracted Reality

Jane Trotter’s Contemporary Abstract Photography

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Exposed #21: A Touch of Red

Spoiler Alert!  In my 'Exposed' series of articles I reveal some of the secrets behind how I created my images.  If you don't want to know how I made 'A Touch of Red' stop reading now!

A Touch of Red - Jane Trotter

Well, it’s no surprise what these are! This is probably my most easily discernible image (even without the helpful title). Yes, I have immortalised my fingerprints.

What may be slightly less discernible is how I made this image. No, I did not dip my fingertips in red paint.

I played with a bucket.

I really enjoyed the strong backlight and how the pads of my fingers pressed against the plastic, providing a slightly darker appearance than the rest of my fingers.

Here’s an example where my fingertips suggest three, mysterious and disturbing hooded figures, advancing in the twilight.

3 Hooded Figures - Jane Trotter

Somewhat starker and simpler (and looking more like fingers) is the ‘out of the camera’ shot for ‘A Touch of Red’.

Original image for 'A Touch of Red'

Of course, in the original, there’s absolutely no hint of red, and it’s reasonably far removed from what I ultimately ended up with.

This is where I embarked upon a bit of a journey. Back in the day when I had very little skill in Photoshop and only possessed a rudimentary grasp of the basics, my ‘playing’ was not particularly sophisticated.  For example, I would tweak levels, contrast and brightness, and hue and saturation to see what enhancements I could make.

Sometimes curiosity got the better of me and I went out on a limb, tweaking these elements to their extreme, just to see what effect they’d have on the image. I’m very glad I did, as ‘A Touch of Red’ is the result of such daredevil experimentation!

It’s certainly been a while since I made this image, so I can’t take you through exactly what my processes were. Frankly, they were probably incredibly unstructured, with a lot of toing and froing and a fair amount of luck thrown into the mix!  However, these four intermediate shots I’ve put together will hopefully give you an idea.

The progression towards 'A Touch of Red'

 

What appeals to me the most about ‘A Touch of Red’ is its simplicity. It is what it is, and nothing more. No pretence. no artifice. It’s direct and straightforward. A good philosophy for life maybe…

A Touch of Red - Jane Trotter

 

Jane Trotter - Creator of Abstracted RealityJane Trotter is an abstract photographer living in Dunedin, New Zealand. Reimagining everyday objects found around the home, Jane transforms them into colourful and dramatic pieces of contemporary art. Her Fine Art Prints are available in sizes A4 to A1.

 

Multiple Exposure

A Touch of Red - Jane Trotter

Exposed #21: A Touch of Red

Well, it's no surprise what these are! This is probably my most easily discernible image (even … [Read More...]

Exposed #20: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

I must confess, I'm a sucker when it comes to colourful patterns. I think I'm attracted to the … [Read More...]

Exposed #19: Encoiled

There are two household chores I really dislike - cleaning the shower and doing the vacuuming. I … [Read More...]

Exposed #18: Cascade

I always like to challenge myself in my photography. Especially with triptychs, it can be extremely … [Read More...]

Exposed #17: Solar Flare

I always like to keep a selection of the images I take from a photo shoot. Firstly, I’ll choose the … [Read More...]

Exposed #16: Back in the Fold

With today’s abundance of technology and amazing gadgets, it’s easy to forget about the humble piece … [Read More...]

Exposed #15: Splay of Colour

I’m always on the lookout for colourful things which I think might be useful for my photography. But … [Read More...]

Exposed #14: Fish out of Water & Three of a Kind

I love playing around with images. For me, one of the greatest challenges and pleasures is taking a … [Read More...]

Exposed #13: Prismatic

It’s amazing what your subconscious can come up with. A shot can be years in the making if you go … [Read More...]

Exposed #12: Tulip

Sometimes you hold onto an image and you don’t know why. There’s a little voice in the back of your … [Read More...]

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