Abstract Photography for Sale

Photography, Drift 07, Rowan Daly

Drift 07

Rowan Daly

Photography - 76.2 x 50.8 cm

$1,900

Photography, Michaelangelo, Samsofy

Michaelangelo

Samsofy

Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm

$2,259

Photography, Le banc, Mathieu Pujol

Le banc

Mathieu Pujol

Photography - 100 x 150 x 0.2 cm

$1,694

Photography, Heartbreaker II, Jochen Cerny

Heartbreaker II

Jochen Cerny

Photography - 120.9 x 120.9 x 2.8 cm

$4,250

Photography, 63°18'1" N, 20°34'36" O, Stéphane Spach

63°18'1" N, 20°34'36" O

Stéphane Spach

Photography - 40 x 108 x 0.5 cm

$2,146

Photography, Perspective, Rika Maja Duevel

Perspective

Rika Maja Duevel

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm

$1,366

Photography, Bleed # 202129, Paul Snell

Bleed # 202129

Paul Snell

Photography - 180 x 115 cm

$7,704

Photography, Ocean light, Jean-Pierre Fleury

Ocean light

Jean-Pierre Fleury

Photography - 60 x 100 x 3 cm

$1,762

Photography, Bruges, H12 - Composition abstraite photographique Belgique, Danielle Aspis

Bruges, H12 - Composition abstraite photographique Belgique

Danielle Aspis

Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm

$1,762

Photography, Matiere Hybride 2, Joëlle Cabanne

Matiere Hybride 2

Joëlle Cabanne

Photography - 84 x 57.5 cm

$5,872

Photography, Mute # 201801, Paul Snell

Mute # 201801

Paul Snell

Photography - 100 x 100 x 6.5 cm

$4,675

Photography, Mute # 201706, Paul Snell

Mute # 201706

Paul Snell

Photography - 100 x 100 x 6.5 cm

$4,675

Photography, Mute # 201705, Paul Snell

Mute # 201705

Paul Snell

Photography - 100 x 100 x 6.5 cm

$4,675

Photography, Drift # 201501, Paul Snell

Drift # 201501

Paul Snell

Photography - 85 x 85 x 6.5 cm

$4,346

Photography, Riff 3, Richard Caldicott

Riff 3

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 61 x 50.8 cm

$4,280

Photography, Untitled 153, Richard Caldicott

Untitled 153

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 61 x 50.8 cm

$4,280

Photography, Untitled 156, Richard Caldicott

Untitled 156

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 61 x 50.8 cm

$3,292

Photography, Untitled (d), Richard Caldicott

Untitled (d)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 50.8 x 61 cm

$4,280

Photography, Hover # 201913, Paul Snell

Hover # 201913

Paul Snell

Photography - 80 x 80 cm

$4,346

Photography, Hover # 201914, Paul Snell

Hover # 201914

Paul Snell

Photography - 80 x 80 cm

$4,346

Photography, Hover # 201915, Paul Snell

Hover # 201915

Paul Snell

Photography - 80 x 80 cm

$4,346

Photography, Untitled (15), Richard Caldicott

Untitled (15)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 51 x 61 cm

$3,292

Photography, Untitled (14), Richard Caldicott

Untitled (14)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 51 x 61 cm

$3,292

Photography, Untitled (7), Richard Caldicott

Untitled (7)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 51 x 61 cm

$3,292

Photography, Untitled (6), Richard Caldicott

Untitled (6)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 50.8 x 61 cm

$3,292

Photography, Norway 14, Raynald Najosky

Norway 14

Raynald Najosky

Photography - 24 x 36 x 1 cm

$678

Photography, 20 01 16 0022, Pierre Jalby

20 01 16 0022

Pierre Jalby

Photography - 262 x 200 x 4 cm

$22,586

Photography, Rêve de scène, Tanguy Mendrisse

Rêve de scène

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography - 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm

$136

Photography, Pas, Hervé Pezzini

Pas

Hervé Pezzini

Photography - 50 x 75 x 1 cm

$338

Photography, Basket, Hervé Pezzini

Basket

Hervé Pezzini

Photography - 50 x 75 x 1 cm

$338

Photography, Green & Blue Interior, Edmund Sumner

Green & Blue Interior

Edmund Sumner

Photography - 119 x 84 x 0.1 cm

$2,897

Photography, Playful, Jan Gordon

Playful

Jan Gordon

Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.4 cm

$1,900

Photography, Encircle, Jan Gordon

Encircle

Jan Gordon

Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.4 cm

$1,900

Photography, Soft, Jan Gordon

Soft

Jan Gordon

Photography - 101.6 x 76.2 x 0.4 cm

$1,900

Photography, Coral Sea Conservation Diving Adventure, Anthony Horth

Coral Sea Conservation Diving Adventure

Anthony Horth

Photography - 61 x 121.9 x 0.3 cm

$995

Photography, Natural resemblance XIV, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Natural resemblance XIV

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 75 x 100 x 0.3 cm

$1,317

Photography, Natural resemblance XIII, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Natural resemblance XIII

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 75 x 100 x 0.3 cm

$1,317

Photography, Road signs IV, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Road signs IV

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 98 x 73 x 0.3 cm

$1,317

Photography, Road signs II, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Road signs II

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 98 x 73 x 0.3 cm

$1,317

Photography, From my Nanny's wall VI, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

From my Nanny's wall VI

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 68 x 98 x 0.3 cm

$1,317

Photography, When you step into the land of colours VI, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

When you step into the land of colours VI

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.2 cm

$1,317

Photography, When you step into the land of colours I, Jakub Pasierkiewicz

When you step into the land of colours I

Jakub Pasierkiewicz

Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.2 cm

$1,317

Photography, Witness 11, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 11

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 10, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 10

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 6, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 6

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 5, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 5

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 4, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 4

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 3, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 3

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 2, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 2

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Witness 1, Sjaak Korsten

Witness 1

Sjaak Korsten

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$960

Photography, Contemplum #008, Dani Garcia Sarabia

Contemplum #008

Dani Garcia Sarabia

Photography - 80 x 53 x 0.5 cm

$2,033

Photography, Eclipse, Miguel Winograd

Eclipse

Miguel Winograd

Photography - 109.2 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm

$2,000

Photography, Pared el Palmar, Pigment Prints, Miguel Winograd

Pared el Palmar, Pigment Prints

Miguel Winograd

Photography - 110 x 91.9 x 0.3 cm

$2,000

Photography, Maybe 'Tugendhat', Sandra Salamonová

Maybe 'Tugendhat'

Sandra Salamonová

Photography - 40 x 30 x 1 cm

$903

Photography, Imagine, Sandra Salamonová

Imagine

Sandra Salamonová

Photography - 40 x 30 cm

$565

Photography, Kundalini 03, Robin Thurel

Kundalini 03

Robin Thurel

Photography - 66 x 100 cm

$1,694

Photography, Esprit 02, Robin Thurel

Esprit 02

Robin Thurel

Photography - 66 x 100 cm

$666

Photography, Rhyme I, Justin Pumfrey

Rhyme I

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 151 x 101 x 0.01 cm

$3,156

Photography, Poem Country, Justin Pumfrey

Poem Country

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, Old Calendar, Justin Pumfrey

Old Calendar

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, Golden Storm, Justin Pumfrey

Golden Storm

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, Iris, Justin Pumfrey

Iris

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, Rock And Ice, Justin Pumfrey

Rock And Ice

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 76 x 101 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, California Poppy, Justin Pumfrey

California Poppy

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm

$2,462

Photography, Rhyme III, Justin Pumfrey

Rhyme III

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 30 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$525

Photography, Rhyme II, Justin Pumfrey

Rhyme II

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 30 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$525

Photography, Salisbury Plain, Justin Pumfrey

Salisbury Plain

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 41 x 30 x 0.01 cm

$525

Photography, Rhyme I, Justin Pumfrey

Rhyme I

Justin Pumfrey

Photography - 41 x 30 x 0.01 cm

$525

Photography, SCOPIQUE, JAUNE ILLUSION, Pascal Therme

SCOPIQUE, JAUNE ILLUSION

Pascal Therme

Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm

$203

Photography, Rebirth III, Shine Huang

Rebirth III

Shine Huang

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,800

Photography, Rebirth II, Shine Huang

Rebirth II

Shine Huang

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,800

Photography, Rebirth I, Shine Huang

Rebirth I

Shine Huang

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,800

Photography, Eternal Recurrence #63, Photo collage with intervention by the artist, Natasha Zupan

Eternal Recurrence #63, Photo collage with intervention by the artist

Natasha Zupan

Photography - 151.1 x 121.9 x 0.3 cm

$6,000

Photography, Ufo in the Morning, Sandra Salamonová

Ufo in the Morning

Sandra Salamonová

Photography - 50 x 50 cm

$1,694

Photography, Vague rageuse, Jean-Pierre Fleury

Vague rageuse

Jean-Pierre Fleury

Photography - 60 x 60 x 3 cm

$1,016

Photography, Untitled #29, Josef Nadj

Untitled #29

Josef Nadj

Photography - 30 x 25 cm

$1,242

Photography, Untitled #22, Josef Nadj

Untitled #22

Josef Nadj

Photography - 30 x 41 cm

$1,242

Photography, Untitled #4, Josef Nadj

Untitled #4

Josef Nadj

Photography - 25 x 30 cm

$1,242

Photography, Untitled #3, Josef Nadj

Untitled #3

Josef Nadj

Photography - 25 x 30 cm

$1,242

Photography, Untitled #1, Josef Nadj

Untitled #1

Josef Nadj

Photography - 25 x 30 cm

$1,242

Photography, And the sky clears up (lemon), Borjana Ventzislavova

And the sky clears up (lemon)

Borjana Ventzislavova

Photography - 60 x 40 cm

$1,976

Photography, And the sky clears up (specter-whisk), Borjana Ventzislavova

And the sky clears up (specter-whisk)

Borjana Ventzislavova

Photography - 60 x 40 cm

$1,976

Photography, La galàxia alegre, Maria Grau

La galàxia alegre

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, Batec de colors, Maria Grau

Batec de colors

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, Els rellotges, Maria Grau

Els rellotges

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, El cec colom de la pau, Maria Grau

El cec colom de la pau

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, Guadinianes blaves, Maria Grau

Guadinianes blaves

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, Calidoscopi, Maria Grau

Calidoscopi

Maria Grau

Photography - 45 x 60 cm

$903

Photography, Darkness (série), Sophie Patry

Darkness (série)

Sophie Patry

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$565

Photography, People (série), Sophie Patry

People (série)

Sophie Patry

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$565

Photography, People (série), Sophie Patry

People (série)

Sophie Patry

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$565

Photography, Stories from Annecy #2, Elena Raceala

Stories from Annecy #2

Elena Raceala

Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm

$960

Abstract Photography for Sale

Abstract photography, also sometimes known as experimental photography, is the art of creating a visual effect with an image that has no immediate attachment to reality, by using processes like focusing, framing, or retouching and editing the photograph in post-processing. For example, an abstract picture can sometimes isolate a fragment of an ordinary image to remove it from its original context and give it a surrealist edge. It can also involve playing with blurring, shadows or lighting, textures or unexpected forms. The image is often created with traditional photographic material (analog or digital cameras, dark room, computer). However, artists can also manipulate and alter the film in order to achieve the desired effect.

The first images known as “abstract photographs" appeared shortly after the invention of photography in the 1830s. In 1842, John William Draper created a new type of images with a spectroscope. This machine dispersed light beams and produced a phenomenon that was previously invisible to the eye. The negatives he produced had nothing in common with the works of other photographers, and they opened the way for innovative photographic works. Draper perceived these images as a scientific discovery, not as artworks, but today his method is widely acclaimed by critics for its inherent originality.

In England, Anna Atkins was also a pioneer of abstract photography; she was the first one to place dry algae on cyanotype paper. This scientific experiment improved photographic techniques by creating unique blue and white images. Moreover, the discovery of X-ray and radioactivity in 1896 provoked a fascination for the invisible and many photographers were immediately drawn to these phenomena. French photographer Louis Darget attempted to capture mental processes by pressing unexposed plates to the foreheads of his and trying to get them to project images from their minds onto the plates. He carried out thousands of similar experiments.

It was only during the 20th century that abstract photography truly became recognised as an artistic practice. Surrealism and cubism started replacing impressionism, especially after the Salon d'Automne in 1903 in Paris. This event highlighted new talents like Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp… Ten years later, in New York, Wassily Kandinsky, Mondrian, Braque and Delaunay shocked audiences. The freedom coming from abstract art inspired some of the greatest photographers to break the rules.

Erwin Quedenfeldt exhibited the first abstract photographs in Cologne in 1914. From 1920 to 1930, Europe became the epicenters of conceptual photography with artists such as Jaroslav Rossler, Josef Sudeck, and Rössler exploring abstraction.

Post-processing became more central to photographic works in the 60s and the 70s, with artists like Josef Newman. Eventually, the growing popularity of computers in the 90s and the 2000s opened up infinite possibilities for creating original work. Some contemporary photographers like Peter Klasen, Dominic Harris, or Nicolas Dubreuille combine photography with other mediums.

Find them all on Artsper with our unique selection of abstract photographs.

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Need help with Abstract Photography ?

What is considered abstract photography?

Abstract photography refers to images created using photography equipment that do not directly represent the real visual world as we see it. Abstract photographers use different techniques to manipulate the image captured by the camera. 

What makes good abstract photography?

There are different factors in what makes a good abstract photograph, including composition, color, tone, lighting and mystery. 

What are the different types of abstract photography?

There are many different ways to produce an abstract photograph. Techniques can include moving the camera during exposure, playing with light and reflections, using different angles, and experimenting with production techniques.