Shard

 

 

I shot plenty of rusty abstracts over the years, but this might be my favourite of them all. I love the 3D structure.

On Mars

A rusty abstract that I spotted a few weeks ago in Deventer.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/500
ISO speed: 400
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

 

Rust in Lille

 

 

I love taking detailed pictures of rusty surfaces - instant abstracts. I spotted this one in Lille.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/100
ISO speed: 100
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

 

 

 

Rust in Drachten

A third shot of a time-worn dumpster in Drachten (Friesland). As usual, rust has created beautiful colours and patterns.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO speed: 250
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

Watch me bleed

Another abstract that I shot in an abandoned factory complex at the Yangshupu Road, which now houses the Shanghai Factory Outlet fashion shopping mall (see for the first one here). Wear and tear at its best.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal length: 7.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/60
ISO speed: 400
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

A flower?

When we were walking through the Frysian town of Drachten earlier this week, I came across a dumpster. Most people would see the dumpster, shrug, and move on. I always check dumpsters for abstract shot opportunities, and I was once more not disappointed. Rust has created beautiful colours and patterns.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO speed: 200
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

Yellow fever

Another example of how rust on metal surfaces can create beautiful abstract images - you just need to spot the opportunity. This is in an abandoned factory complex at the Yangshupu Road, which now houses the Shanghai Factory Outlet fashion shopping mall.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal length: 8.9 mm
Exposure time: 1/50
ISO speed: 250
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

Ye olde mailbox

Another example of the photogenicity of rust. I spotted this mailbox in the Old Town of Zhenjiang, about 2 hours by train from Shanghai.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO speed: 320
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0

As time goes by

Suitable abstract images are all around us, if you know what to look for. One of the most suitable opportunities is the wear and tear caused by time on metal surfaces. Here is an example from our recent Shanghai trip, a metal door that has objectively seen better days - but that now gives us a beautiful abstract image.

Camera: Canon IXUS 170 handheld
Aperture: f/3.6
Focal length: 4.5 mm
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO speed: 250
Post-processing: Picasa 3.0