Nilanjan, love the fact that you are candid here. Let me share my thoughts here. I am also cut pasting the extended dialogue you had with me on the other thread since I find it interesting and also others may be interested in these. Here are a few snippets from your views (in
italic) on the mail exchange we had (I hope you don't mind) -
I had a few basic questions keeping in mind no rigidity to hold back someone's thought process. Being Abstract is the way to open the window of the mind where imagination is like a fresh gust of wind...Creativity is guided by abstract thoughts and here we have creativity ruled by abstract thoughts. Now how do we define creativity and how to define abstract ? Creativityin nature surely has a factor where we also need to understand from the visual that the image was made in nature but in a different way but still portrays the message as seen by the photographer and abstract would be to imagine that the image was made in nature, though it actually was. So where are we ? For me abstractness and creativity are two different topics. While abstract images can be creative other way round is not necessarily true.
I don't think creativity need to be guided by abstract thoughts either. Lots of images I made so far and archived under creative section are not abstract.
Now how do we define creativity and how to define abstract ?For
creativity I would go with the definition (from dictionary.com) -
the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: the need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the performing arts. For
Abstract Art I like this definition from Wiki -
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of visual references to the world.The part which I would like to emphasis here is
composition which exists independently of visual references to the world.. So it does not really matter (atleast to me) what the image physically represents in the real world. I think the very purpose here is relating the image to experiences and/or learnings of life. The question of what an abstract art means is a valid one but I don't think there is a definite answer - it may touch ones soul (and may not too) but may be very difficult to express.
What is your visual response to the
Black Square abstract art by Kazimir Malevich
shown in this link ? What does it mean to you ?
Creativity in nature surely has a factor where we also need to understand from the visual that the image was made in nature but in a different way but still portrays the message as seen by the photographer and abstract would be to imagine that the image was made in natureNice thoughts here. Personally I think in abstract nature photography restricting the traceability of the subject being photographed to something in real world is limiting the expressive power of a photographer. You may want to check some of the works by abstract nature photographer
John Alfano. That said, I do agree with you that creative nature photography does not mean abstract nature photography. As far as the rating of the image goes my suggestion is go with what your heart says! If it is 0 so be it
If you don't want to rate that is fine too. Neither the commentor nor the one who posted the image need to worry a lot about it
After all CNP will stand for discovering ourselves through our images - at least that is what I will use CNP for...
Last but not least, candid sharing of thoughts like this will make all of us learn, think and improve. Sincere thanks to you Nilanjan..