September 7, 2019 — Lake Tahoe. Getting later. Getting darker. I opened up to f/10 to let in a little more light, and let it go for 10 seconds at ISO 64. Click. Slow pan to the left and back to the right. Clack.
In dealing with abstracts, all of the hard-and-fast “rules” go out the window. The only consideration left in post-processing is “what do I want to show?” Something in the image suggests a direction and I explore it. Other things reveal themselves along the way. The paths often branch out, inviting more exploration. I can save out as many options as I want. They’re all equally valid.
But in the end, one stands out.
(Nikon D850, Tamron SP 24–70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. RAW processing in DxO PhotoLab 2.3; Editing in Adobe Photoshop.)
For more abstracts, go to www.amagaphoto.com.
AMAGA Photography Blog 
Lovely late night’s deep purple. Although not seen here, I’d guess if you posted the variations each might have its particular fan. Sometimes it’s best to just post your favorite, as you’ve done, and let us appreciate your vision as you wish it to be seen.
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Thank you very much. It is conceivable I may post other versions at some time. It could be interesting to put several in one post just to give an example of what can be done. I will say that doing abstracts is very freeing.
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What’s not to love about the shades of purple here? As to showing similar views of something, I’ve generally avoided it, not wanting to repeat myself. One exception has been with other photographers, as happened at a meeting on Thursday evening, when I showed over a dozen abstract takes from my recent visit to Niagara Falls to elicit opinions about which ones they felt worked best.
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Thank you very much. The thing about abstracts, is the rules don’t apply. There really aren’t any rules. So the raw file is almost fodder for what then happens in post processing.
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People who lived only in the era of film would envy the freedom to render raw files that we now have.
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In his latter years, Ansel Adams foresaw digital photography. He very much would have embraced it. With a big bear hug.
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Everyone in this series is a stunner, this abstract , for me so mesmerizing and delightful works in any colour combination: so simple, so beautiful.
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Thank you very much, Paula. Just to see the various possibilities, I ran this through a bunch of white balance presets. In the end, I returned to “as shot.” The deep purple of the late end of blue hour was, as you say, mesmerizing.
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An interesting technique that produced a great shot, Michael. Well done.
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Thank you very much!
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10 seconds! Beautifully captured and processed. Thank you for sharing with us, Michael.
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Thank you very much. It’s quite a challenge trying to stay completely level while handholding back-and-forth for 10 seconds.
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Brilliant composition.
I really like your minimal style.
Here, the colour composition is really perfect again as well.
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Thank you very much, from someone who very much admires your work.
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Zing! Excellent shot! What an amazing color, and the streak and faint lines are fascinating.
Here’s an off-the-wall association – – it brought to mind a movie title “Electro Glide in Blue” I know this is very definitely a royal purple, but the vivid streak is what suggested the movie (kind of a weird 1970’s flick, cops vs hippies murder mystery, with motorcycles, if I remember right). Regardless, maybe not the movie so much, but yours is a memorable picture!!
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Thank you very much. Shot straight it was an idyllic same littered with electric lights and lots of boats. With intentional camera movement made a completely different image. More coming, where I started playing with the lights.
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I can not look at the technical side because in photography I am absolutely self-taught
When I look closer my imagination sees a reflection in the water and a landscape that seems to be sinuosity or meandering a river. The white line would be something that you added in post production?
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Thank you very much. No, the white light was actually a bright light on a dock. until It made a streak when I did the panning back-and-forth. The reflection was the result of that. The reflection was actually in the water. Absolutely nothing was added in post production.
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Your second paragraph describes the process so very well. Such a penetrating violet light here and the fineness of the lines is perfect. The subtle reflection, the uneven glow in the sky and the pale, pale lines in the distance give the scene lots of depth. At first, the image appears flatter, but the longer you look, the more depth emerges.
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You just made my day.
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Interesting process and super results, Michael. This one reminded me of a speedboat zipping across the water.
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Great! I love it! Thank you.
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