Now that you're a member (you watched us and placed our icon on your profile page (_{How do I add an icon?}), please read that short description of what our club is about, and what activities we offer:

*Abstract--Reality is a community for photographers. While our gallery submissions and contests are focused on abstract and surreal photography, we also provide tips and critiques on other topics of photography.

Originally the club was created because there seemed to be a lack of active clubs dedicated to abstract photography. Personally, I consider that topic as a unique art form, since it requires a very special eye to find abstract subjects in the real world. It also requires an excellent understanding of composition - a huge art topic that one can't cover in a few words. For some, it's a lifetime journey to plenty master composition, with no limit to perfection.

Formal definition that I proposed on July 19th, 2009:

Abstract photography is the application of photographic mediums to the real objects so that the substance of these objects cannot be considered as intrinsic to the informative value of the final picture.
This way, the informative value of a picture is reduced to hues and shapes but no substance of the object being photographed.

This is the definition that is used while allowing pictures into the club. Details, a French version and an explanation can be found here.

As a result of a poll, our club has been expanded to surreal photography as well. Here is a definition of what we consider to be surreal photography:

A surreal photograph features objects, recognizable by their substance, in a way that is not generally considered as a naturally possible way.

After a few months our club proved its ability to grow, so with more and more members we would like to offer more and more activity that could be interesting, fun and useful to everyone. Here is a short list of activities going on now:
- We accept 1 submission/week - abstract photographs only please! Just send us a note (subject: submit) with a thumb (_{What's a thumb?}). Your picture will be submitted to our gallery and added to our favs.
- We can critique your works! Here is how to request a critique: [link] - you will also find our most recent critiques there!
- We hold contests every three months. Here you can find out more about our current contest or suggest a contest theme.
- We hold themed games every month. Here you can find out more about this month's theme and how to submit. All submissions will be featured in a special section in our monthly news article!
- We feature the best works by our members in a box on the right of our journal, updated every month (voted by the members via notes) -- here are all members' favorites and admin's favorites.
- We feature all new submissions monthly. Please the news articles if you want them to get more attention!
- We feature 1 piece/week on our front page as Weekly Deviation.
- We inform our members of new contests held by our affiliates
- We feature the winners of affiliates' contests
- We provide our members with useful links, tips and tutorials on photography in our Resource Centre
- All technical issues are to be discussed on our forum (located on the right of our journal). I will keep you updated on new forum posts!