Photographer's Comment: Except for small vignette, cropping, toning and web sizing, done completely in camera. The hammer is behind a large (2ft tall) wine glass I picked up at Michaels as a prop a while back, glass is full of water, the combination of shooting through the water and the glass is what provided the distortion. Yes I know it's blurry. :)

Tags: abstract hammer creative blur silhouette

Viewer Comments:

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:34:47 ): Thanks Jerry!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:34:07 ): Thanks for the kind words Katia!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:33:37 ): Thanks Steve!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:33:08 ): Thanks Alan! I do have a thing for Abstracts.

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:31:50 ): Thanks Stephanie!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:31:20 ): Thanks Atle!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-14 13:31:03 ): Thanks Sharon!

By grovester (2008-03-12 02:09:49 ): This a great find - bravo on seeing and capturing it. The level of abstraction is just right and the hammer looks like its been caught in the act of dematerializing. The handle looks like a whirlpool pulling the hammerhead into it.

By ktapio (2008-03-11 05:14:27 ): Carl, you are rising to the level of the great masters. I am looking at a Dali if I may say. Here is where art meets the craft to perfect it. Thanks again for a bag full of helpful ideas. katia

By smyers11 (2008-03-11 04:32:23 ): nice abstract - almost flower like but a bit edgy - i like it (i can hear george in the background) can't decide if i like the softness - maybe the softness makes the shot? certainly personal taste. very creative!

By hochbeam (2008-03-10 02:38:00 ): Very imaginative and well done. I like the coloring choice, and the title too. According to ArtWeek this week, abstract photography is back in style, so you're in the vanguard.

By GuitarGodsWife (2008-03-10 00:43:45 ): absolutely cool effect! I love all the curves.

By Atle (2008-03-09 22:22:38 ): Poor hammer, it must become hot where you are. Nice take on the hammer theme, nicely done Carl! ☺

By wilbs999 (2008-03-09 21:08:47 ): Hey! I've had my axe gently weeping before, but never saw a hammer weep. This is great!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-09 20:22:13 ): Thanks Wayne. Actually was experimenting with my wedding 2nd shooter on something totally different, food coloring shots, and I just happened to notice how reflections got distorted through the water, then I thought of the hammer topic and this was the result, best of about 3 shots of it through the water / glass.

By smokeydawg (2008-03-09 20:06:48 ): Thanks Tanja!

By smokeydawg (2008-03-09 20:06:30 ): Thanks Lynn, "bleeding" does probably fit better. Michaels is great!!

By NowYesNow (2008-03-09 17:47:27 ): That's usin' yer Eyes, Carl. The use of the glass to create this is Such an unlikely thought, I'd say, but gets the job ... um... Nailed, when we know what the themes were. Your composition placing the hammer face just right of the center accomplishes the sense of its travel, as does the sequence of those vertical "crack" lines falling away progressively to the right. You remind us to think with our visual senses.. with our eyes.. in concert with our concepts. How Did you think of this? I'm curious about the process.

By somagni (2008-03-09 16:31:42 ): spooky! I like the little "hairs". Thanks for sharing how you did it. Love that creative mind of yours!

By lynnrider (2008-03-09 16:13:52 ): Very cool idea Carl. I think due to the water it appears that the edges are more "bleeding" than blur - in a good way - like water colors when first put onto the paper. The distortion provides a nice abstract - I see a birds head and beak dipping down for a drink from the bottom of the glass:) Isn't Michaels a terrific resource!

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