Photography masterclass: abstract

Small details on a wall can make great abstracts. Taken on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS using the 'tilt and shift' miniature function. Photograph: Brian Sweeeney/guardian.co.uk

An amusing angle here changes the dynamic of the image. Taken on Brian's Canon EOS 5D. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Brian used the 'tilt and shift' miniature setting here on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. It makes this police barricade look like a toy. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

A tiny cartoon on a wall makes a colourful abstract, especially using the miniature setting on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Blossom is amazing to shoot anywhere, making spring one of Brian's favourite times of year. Taken on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS using aperture priority. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

The slanting buildings set behind the bunting make an interesting abstract composition. Taken on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS - with the 'tilt and shift' miniature function selected again. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

A scene within the bigger picture can make a great abstract. Taken on the Canon EOS 5D. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a shot of some boats on a canal. This was taken with the miniature setting on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS - it's particularly effective when shooting from above. Photograph: Hannah Pool/guardian.co.uk

Sometimes the most unlikely things make interesting compositions and abstracts. There's plenty of shape in this rather surreal composition. Taken on Brian's Canon EOS 5D. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

A series of lampshades in a famous Amsterdam cafe make great shapes and forms when approached from an unusual angle. Taken on Brian's Canon EOS 5D. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Again, tiny drawings on a wall show that looking from a different perspective can make all the difference. Taken on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

The writing's on the wall... Graphics and tags shot on the macro setting of the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS make interesting shots. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Overhead power lines make coulorful graphic shapes in this shot. Taken on the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Brian used his Canon EOS 5D and shot through a glass window of a bus stop using a slight over-exposure on manual here. The effect is surreal. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk

Shapes and colour work well together on this Rothko-inspired image, which was taken on Brian's Canon EOS 5D. Photograph: Brian Sweeney/guardian.co.uk