My first thought when I saw the Lens-Artists latest photo challenge ‘Photographic Groove’ was MACRO. I immediately put together a batch of favourites from the last few months and then I discovered that my groove could be better described as ‘accidental art’.
On one of my earlier posts about it I wrote, ‘I can’t believe how many people leave art just lying around.’
This is a fine example of a piece of accidental art. If I had actually put this together as a collage of Black Tusk, the protruding core of an ancient volcano, I would have been very pleased.
A macro of a grey city locker with spray paint, peeling paper and a lock adding texture.
Most of the images are macros. 
But this one, a reflection of coloured kayaks in the water isn’t a macro. My photographic groove is more about abstract design and textures. 
Torn posters together with a rusted panel bolted onto a telephone pole. 
I am not entirely sure what this is an image of – the label says ‘abstract texture of a red fiberglass boat?’ I have several photos of it, and by checking the before and after photos it appears to be something related to one of the public docks, perhaps a semi-collapsed rubber dingy? At any rate, after this I decided to try and remember to take a long shot so I could at least figure out what it was that I was taking a picture of.
Here are two images where I actually took the longer shot, and show how something mundane can be transformed into art.
The renovation of a fountain.
Macro of the abstract black markings on its side.
A disintegrating mural on the cinder block wall of a tire store. 
Abstract rust-coloured tissue of old clothing patterns layered onto a mural. 
More of the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: What’s Your Photographic Groove?
Batz Gallery 
I love that you described your photos as accidental art. And yet, I love that your are deliberate in the search for abstract art. It was a great lesson to see how we to can narrow our photos into something fun…artsy. Well done. Donna
A terrific overview of your talented approach toward abstract art Elizabeth. Really well done. Enjoyed the before and afters for some insight into what you look for.
Often I combine these types of images with natural objects as diptychs. They are printed on a raised panel and I’m thinking of tucking the long shot into the back. The idea only came to me last week when I took the ripple image of the kayaks with my friends who lived on a boat there telling me that baby seals had recently been born on that dock, and were often hanging out behind the kayaks. Unfortunately I couldn’t see them as the dock with a view of them had been closed off for minor repairs…
I’m so glad my challenge helped you find your groove of accidental art. You create amazing art from looking closer at textures, patterns and colors. You have taught me to record the bigger picture and then crop in for the close up. Thanks for joining in.
Recording the bigger picture is quite new, and I don’t always remember to do it. But lately there have been a number of times where I really wasn’t sure what it was and have retraced my steps trying to find the original.
Aaah, brilliant abstracts created when getting up close!
You never know what you might see…
True!
Really interesting textures you have here. I love the two posters one.
I like the colours of that one, and think I might go up there again to see if I can find more abstracts within that telephone pole.
Sounds like a good plan 🙂
Excellent! I appreciate that you show us the big image before the macro. It show how much Extra-ordinary can lie in the ordinary. Esp. love your last shot – the organic texture fools us into thinking its a leaf or butterfly but then the straight right-angle lines say otherwise.
I like having the ‘big picture’ as it creates a ‘surprise’ when you see the close-up. I am fairly certain that the last shot will show up in one of my natural/unnatural diptychs.