In the absence of a clear subject, what remains? Unlike the many other mediums of abstract art, photographic abstraction is not prolific. The paintings of CY Twombly, Georges Braque, Ellsworth Kelly and others, whose lack of definite subject matter breeds intrigue, an absence of subject in photography typical leads to an image that falls apart. In contemplating how these painters approach their canvases, It occurred to me that lack of a clear subject in a photo does not actually lead to the diminishment of the image, rather this transforms the picture into a study of formalism. In this perspective, the viewer begins to see as the camera might see, much how we see through our peripheral vision; these are the images that exist on the outside of subject driven images.
For every photo taken, there is a dialog that happens between the photographer and the camera. An abstract idea is translated by the camera into one of clarity. The question perhaps remains; how can we visualize the idea behind the photography?
Perhaps it is through the subtle connections made in a single frame of frozen time, that showcase the elements that make a photo, a photo.