It's a balloon, and while I have many other shots of it (as it floated down the river) this was the best of all. And yeah, I probably should have cropped it to get the balloon to the side more, but I more or less try to frame things from the start.

I have to disagree with "uncommondepth". I think the balloon is crucial to making this shot abstract...it is so unusual and curious....without it, it's just a picture of reflected clouds.

Well after reading your reply above you obviously can't recreate it but I guess photoshop is still open. I think the balloon(ball) makes the abstract quality and holding power and the center position makes it a can't miss forcing your eye to bullseye the image and stay there.

well, I do have many shots of this balloon in all sorts of places on the river. i have a video too.
;) I followed it like a crazy person.

I think the balloon really makes the shot. Excellent!

I think the balloon really makes the shot. Excellent!

Very cool. I'm in the camp that the reflection alone is excellent but the balloon is a plus.

seems to me that u just cant go wrong on weeklyshot, another beauty...

What a lonely little thing. I think this is both dramatic and touching.

Personally I think the blue ball prohibits this image from being a natural abstract. I can't believe this wasn't a "set up" shot. How unnatural is that? However good the image is, and let's make no mistake it's a fabulous image, it's NOT a natural abstract. Feel free to disagree!

it wasn't a set up. I was up on the bridge, and the balloon was over there on that side, then I followed it to the other side and shot a bunch of pictures. I'm not sure why you don't see this as being a natural abstract. Is it the "natural" part you are disagreeing with, or the "abstract?"
A blue circle on a shimmering surface could be anything.
Feel free to disagree. :)

This fits the theme wonderfully to my eye. While "water" would be one of my guesses, it wouldn't be the only one. It's a terrific shot...and that spot of blue is perfect. Love it.

Abstract doesn't just mean non-objective geometric shapes, it also means abstraction and simplification of real forms, like clouds and blue balloons. I think this is certainly abstract, more so than a lot of this week's submissions.

It doesn't matter if it was set up (and I don't see why it would be, I'm always finding old balloons washed up on shore)- the theme is simply about creating abstract compositions with real objects and minimal photoshopping.

I accept all these comments as valid arguments, but there are many here that have followed the brief closely, but I don't accept that happening to be lucky enough to find a blue balloon floating in your river is a natural occurance that qualifies the shot to be a "natural" abstract. Your not finding the abstract in something that occurs naturally in the truest sense. See what I mean?

well, when *I* posted the theme (ie: brief), I didn't mean for the contents of the picture to natural as in only earthy objects, otherwise, it would exclude anything man-made. And besides that, I'm a VERY lucky person.

I understand your point.....
That a "staged" shot doesn't count for natural. I do get that. But in my opinion, it does. I just didn't want the photo to be manipulated after the shot was taken, and for it to appear abstract. That was my intent with I came up with this theme.

Fair enough. I guess there is always room for interpretation. Thankyou for being so gracious in your replies to my somewhat controversial point. It is a wonderful thing to be able discuss things in this manner. I learnt something tonight, though these short exchanges, and poeple's responses. Be well, Ana, I look forward to exchanging views with you again. Congrats on being responsible for yet another successful theme, some of the images here are truly awesome.