Photography has the power to isolate a fragment of a scene and turn it into art, or to freeze shapes that momentarily take on a meaning far removed from their original intention. Or chance juxta­positions can be given significance as a result of your perception and the way you decide to frame and photograph the scene.

The easiest approach to abstracts is the close-up, as it emphasizes the graphic and removes the context. To achieve this, it is usually best to shoot square-on to the subject, as this frees the content from such distractions as receding space or shape changes due to projection distortion.

Longer focal length settings help to concentrate the visual field, but take care not to remove too much. It is advisable to take a variety of shots with differing compositions and from slightly different distances, as images used on screen or in print often have different demands made on them. For example, fine detail and texture are engrossing but if the image is to be used small on a Web page, then a broad sweep may work better. And since you will usually be shooting straight onto flat or two-dimensional subjects, you do not need great depth of field. This is useful, as it is often crucial to keep images sharp throughout.

Torn billboards and posters offer one of the richest sources of everyday abstract imagery: the combination of random torn edges together with the layering of older posters offers rich visual possibilities. The trick is to avoid confusion and keep the image recognizable without being too obvious. The presence of recognizable elements always helps to locate the image and give it some sort of scale.

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