Neon Abstract # 3 by Chipka
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Description
I don’t know how many more of these I will have. I thought to post only three or four of them, but I went out with Corey—again—this past weekend and managed to shoot nothing but neon abstracts, and so now I have…lots more of these. Chicago was pretty boring that night, and rather than let my camera go to waste, I experimented with moving around and blurring things on purpose. It’s quite an invigorating feeling to realize that you have the absolute freedom to point your camera at something (or even someone) and then utterly fail to capture an objective image. The possibilities of life open up when you realize that you are allowed to ruin a perfectly decent picture and make something else. I suspect it’s like the discovery of tapioca. I can hear the man/woman who first discovered tapioca: Hey, this pudding is lumpy…hmmm…it tastes better that way! That’s how I feel about neon-abstract photography: or whatever you’d wanna call this.
This particular abstract comes from two intentionally blurred photographs: one placed on top of another. The lower layer consists of a “spin” shot, while the glowing amoebas doing the Tango are from a “jiggle” shot taken in a parking lot. I rather like the technique I’ve stumbled across. Like the “swish and flick” method of wand-handling in the Harry Potter universe, the photographic techniques I employed here are best described as “spin and jiggle.” As a sort of mocking pun on Cold War Paranoia, I might attempt a “duck and cover” shot in the near future.
What I like most about this kind of photography is that no two shots will ever turn out the same. No two Neon Abstracts will look alike. Each is as distinct as a fingerprint, and they’re so easy to combine into something else. I rather like this. It’s like discovering the personalities of living human beings, and perhaps, this method of photography can enjoy anthropological applications in the future. Hmmm…that might be quite interesting!
In terms of this piece, the more round-ish amoeba shapes are achieved by simply copying the original blurred photo and flipping the copy to make something symmetrical. Though this is only two photos worked into a single piece, it’s still a major collection of layers and masks that darken the background to get rid of that orange haze of sodium vapor light, as that haze has a habit of consuming small details like rather tasty snacks.
Well…consider yourselves warned. There are more of these, and I suspect more than that if I’m ever in the charming company of my camera and a few pretty lights on a particularly boring night in the streets of Chicago!
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting. I hope--as always--that you're all having a great week!
Comments (22)
myrrhluz
The bright glow in the center looks like a big eared mouse, with his bangs slicked down, wearing a bow tie. The dotted lined figure on the top looks rather sinister with glowing eyes and the bottom two are ears. Perhaps the mouse needs to slip away to whatever party he is dressed up for before the eyes and ears find him. Great image! I look forward to more of these!
jmb007
superbe photo!!
anaber
OHH! So interesting the geometric shapes and its simetry! And..in bottom it even seems i can see contour of rats...looking to each other!and above..like simbolic figures among the light...Exquisite photo!Looking for more Chip!
MrsRatbag
I love messing with lights; it's definitely some kind of psychological indicator, I think!
MrsLubner
Artistic and unique in composition. Very interesting.
Crabbycabby
It's one of those shots where everyone sees a different image. I see two king cobras eyeing each other up with an elephant walking towards camera against an african sun rise or sun set. Great work.
prutzworks
trippy shot
durleybeachbum
Joy in the making.... Serendipity is like that, and your enthusiasm is infectious!
helanker
Yeah, Taking a whole bunch of shots doesnt cost a fortune, as it did in the analogue time. I have PLENTY of mistake shots I keep for such play. But as you I also tried to play with light. This looks awesome Chip. :-) I like to se more.
Meglaurel
Suspending a moment in between. Exciting capture!
Meisiekind
So uniquely CHIP!!! I just love this! I think photography like this is also very relaxing! To purposely blur something must be fun! I think you have just inspired me to try it too!!! I really love the effect!
flavia49
wonderful image!!
sandra46
i like this style and i think you made a great postwork putting together two shots. Even if neaon art is made with real neon tubes, this can be considered flash art for two good reasons, that is it interprets neon signs, as well as if creates a sense of movement, like a flash of light. Maybe it's the hot weather and i'm getting demented, but i hope you understand my meaning.
kgb224
Outstanding work my friend.
CoreyBlack
I like this Spincycle Phase you're in. It's always fun to see you spinning around in the distance while I'm trying to make a more traditional shot. I'd join you in the spinning but I suspect I'd probably fall over or crash into you. Anyway, you're getting some great stuff here that looks even better when you double-track it. Cool, trippy stuff!
Sepiasiren
don't you love it when the right set of circumstances creates a fantastic piece of art...
bmac62
Plagiarism is said to be the sincerest form of flattery. You've fired up some of us here with your technique and method. Watch out, you'll probably see more of these...at least from those of us who can find neon lights. They used to be common everywhere...but not so much anymore. Many small towns/cities are almost devoid of them now...sadly, too many "more modern" ways to light a sign welcoming one into "Joe's Tavern" or saying "Open" or "Vacancy"...or "Rooms 75 Cents". At least saloons seem to be trying to keep the neon light form alive with each beer company trying to outdo its' competition with "Miller" or "Budweiser" or "Pabst Blue Ribbon" signs decorating smoky windows out front. Your night shots are great. What would you and Corey think about day shots of the neon signs themselves as history of a dying commercial art form?
ShadowsNTime
I'm glad you had the opportunity to do this and share your technique with us! Abstracts are delicious works that have intrigued me since early childhood.This one is beautiful and I loved your description:-) There are a lot of shots like this on the www and I have created some in my flame program. I personally don't think neons will ever die out completely because they create such wonderful color. There is a shop in Seattle, maybe Tara knows of it, that creates beautiful designs in neon, many pieces become wonderful works of art in living room decor. And similar things appear as Christmas decor. Fiber optics is another fascinating realm that might be worth a photographers eye. I think light is the key that draws us in to those types of art and thus will make them stay around for some time to come.
minos_6
I like the symmetry of this, combined with a chaotic feel, as not all elements are mirrored. I also fancy that I can make out a face in this. Intriguing! Very nice work! I'm looking forward to seeing more!
danapommet
Liked your tapioca analogy. I’ve always wondered about the person, that first saw an egg being laid and thought, as s/he watched the egg coming out of the butt of the chicken, “I wonder what that would taste like”. Bring on the neon abstracts – I’m liking them a lot. Dana
mbz2662
Wow. I am enjoying your neon series immensely.
praep
Really great - I like your Neon-Series.