Botanical Abstracts

These photographs begin with fast prime lenses used wide open, where foliage can dissolve into color, line and soft planes of focus. I work handheld so I can move quickly around the subject, watching how those planes appear and disappear as my position changes. From there, I may stop the lens down until just enough definition emerges to hold the composition together. Tack sharpness isn’t the goal. I’m looking for the moment when an edge, curve or overlapping leaf briefly resolves while the rest of the plant remains abstract. Many of these images were made at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory and Washington Park Arboretum using fast modern primes and older lenses with very different rendering characteristics.

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Feathery Green Grass Abstract A soft-focus botanical abstract built from overlapping blades of green grass and narrow planes of focus. The shallow depth of field turns the leaves into layers...
Feathery Green Grass Abstract
Edge of Red An abstract close-up of New Zealand flax, photographed with extremely shallow depth of field so the plant’s blades dissolve into bands of red, blue, green and...
Edge of Red
Grass Bend Abstract A close-up botanical abstract photographed at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory. A curving green blade edged in vivid pink emerges from a field of soft...
Grass Bend Abstract
Grass Folds Abstract A colorful botanical abstract photographed at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory with a Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens. A curved green blade arcs through vivid pink...
Grass Folds Abstract
Palm Patterns A quiet botanical abstract built from overlapping palm leaves and a narrow plane of focus. Photographed handheld, the composition emerged by moving through the...
Palm Patterns
Succulent Tip A soft botanical abstract built around the pointed tip of a succulent leaf, emerging from overlapping washes of red, green and warm gold. Photographed handheld...
Succulent Tip
Red and Blue New Zealand Flax An abstract study of New Zealand flax, with overlapping blades reduced to bands of blue-green, red and deep shadow. A narrow plane of focus gives just enough...
Red and Blue New Zealand Flax
Green Blades of New Zealand Flax A botanical abstract of New Zealand flax, photographed handheld with shallow depth of field. A single pointed blade comes forward while the surrounding foliage...
Green Blades of New Zealand Flax
Multicolor New Zealand Flax A layered abstract study of New Zealand flax, with overlapping blades shifting between green, blue, violet and muted red. Photographed handheld, the composition...
Multicolor New Zealand Flax
Green Teal New Zealand Flax A soft botanical abstract of New Zealand flax, photographed handheld with shallow depth of field. One narrow blade curves into focus against broader layers of...
Green Teal New Zealand Flax