So What Is It?

My photography assignment for this week was to take abstract pictures.  What the heck is abstract photography?  My first thought was objects really close up.  Right?  Isn't that what you picture too? My teacher described it as images in which you can't really tell what it is. Sounded easy enough.

I was in San Francisco this past weekend, so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to take abstract pictures.  Well, turns out.  The assignment wasn't so easy.  I was wandering downtown San Francisco and didn't know what I was doing.  I took pictures of buildings and structures.  I wasn't sure if they were abstract.  When I came home, I took some random pictures of stuff in my house.  Still didn't know if I got it right or not.

I was eager to see everyone's work at class last night. However, the teacher who gave us this assignment didn't show up, and his co-teacher wasn't entirely sure what we were supposed to do or even what qualified as abstract.  We looked at picture after picture, and he didn't think most of them could be considered abstract..

So let's play a game. My photos are below.  What are they pictures of?  And which ones do you think qualified as abstract?

Answers:
1) Loose sequins - not abstract
2) Side of a building with reflection of the building across the street - abstract
3) My new flip flops - abstract
4) Cork coasters - not abstract