Intentional Camera Movement Technique (Open Thread)

[Stagecoach]

Some very interesting examples, great thread.

Grahame

[ShaneS]

Same hillside different day...this time a tree amongst the rocks.

This is a combination of in camera multiple exposure (3) with ICM. The shutter speed was 1/6 at ISO 100 so there was some blur simply due to the fact that I was hand holding the camera. On the third shot I exaggerated this movement intentionally.

In PP I pulled the black slider to 39 and added a very exaggerated s-curve in ACR and then I adjusted the contrast further in Photoshop and added a vignette to make the tree stand out.



I continue to experiment with the technique and am enjoying the process but I am still trying to find a balance between realism and an artistic or abstract rendition of a subject.

I'd love to get your thoughts...

[FootLoose]

I really like this shot, Shane. The combination of multiple exposures with ICM has produced a very engaging photo. There are different degrees of movement which lead the eye from one position to another across the scene.

At first I felt the sweeping diagonal lines across the bright green of the tree were a little too strong but then I think they are balanced by the softer lines of the foliage towards the bottom. While there is a stronger movement in the upper half, it is contrasted by the dark area in which there is no sign of movement -- so a nice juxtaposition of movement and stillness.

The contrast in colour between the main tree's foliage and the darker area below it gives some nice depth to the image.

Did you use an ND filter with this?

[ShaneS]

Thanks Greg. I think that the diagonals that you see have more to do with my positioning during the first two shots of the multiple exposure. I can't quite remember the movement that I have on the third but it might have enhanced that effect. As you know this technique can be a bit of a crap shoot as you never know quite what you will get I too thought that the dark areas grounded the shot. No ND filter used, it was just a grey day with an aperture of f11 that gave me some blur in each shot of the three.

I am practicing my editing skills on the non ICM version of this one tonight to see how that turns out.

BTW, I really like the wave shots in your first post in the thread. It has a beautiful sense of flow and is what I am talking about when I refer to the line between an interpretation of a subject and a straight shot of the subject.

[FootLoose]

Well, I think your last shot posted here goes along way towards that goal. If the ICM produces results that are almost but not quite what you want, I suspect you could probably give it a nudge in the right direction with a little bit of Gaussian blur.


The wave shots were all taken at F11 @ 1/8 sec. and I used a variable ND to set that exposure. It was bright and sunny and I was panning in the direction the wave was breaking and that was towards the afternoon sun. I think I picked up the tip about the ND from the link you posted to Doug Chinnery. Cheers.

[FootLoose]

Well, I think your last shot posted here goes along way towards that goal. If the ICM produces results that are almost but not quite what you want, I suspect you could probably give it a nudge in the right direction with a little bit of Gaussian blur.


The wave shots were all taken at F11 @ 1/8 sec. and I used a variable ND to set that exposure. It was bright and sunny and I was panning in the direction the wave was breaking and that was towards the afternoon sun. I think I picked up the tip about the ND from the link you posted to Doug Chinnery. Cheers.

[jcuknz]

Since I have held the opinion that when trying 'tricks' part of the image should be 'normal' so only Paul's second image in #3 appeals to me and a couple of years ago I used one image, duplicated with the top layer adjusted [ motion blurr ] and then erased where I wanted the crisp original.

[Kaye Leggett]

Great images and a great thread - I particularly like Greg's seascapes. I messed with this technique last autumn whilst at our local arboretum and liked the results but knew they needed work. Being inspired by these posts, I think I'll give this a go again soon.

[Downrigger]

This is a helpful thread full of great ideas, and results that take this form from gimmick to creative, engaging, results. Those interested might take a look at: http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/profile/435081/ . If you look through some of his work you'll find outcomes that are compelling and for which it is hard to imagine the technique. His work suggests a level of control of movement that I think would take a great deal of experience and skill, and that is certainly the part I have found most elusive in my experience with ICM. Some of the great images here suggest such skills are attainable.