Abstract and industrial photography is less about finding an unusual subject and more about noticing texture in ordinary places. A stack of metal sheets, a rusted railing or a cracked wall can carry a photo entirely on pattern and light, with no obvious subject at all.
Side light is what makes texture visible – flat, straight-on light erases it, while light raking across a surface at a low angle throws small shadows that reveal every ridge and imperfection. I look for repetition first: rows, stacks, grids, anything that repeats with small variations.
Cropping in tight removes context and turns a mundane object into a study of shape and tone. It is a good habit to build even for portrait and event photographers, since it trains you to notice the small background details that either help or hurt every other kind of shot.