I thought I should post a few images after a dirge of technical posts.
I think Ive found my photography mojo recently after playing with the popular intentional camera movement technique. Lots of photographers are using it to spark more creativity in their work, and its certainly done the trick for me.
Kapiti Island, Raumati Beach, Wellington
It actually started early last year, when I was on holiday in Wellington. We stayed at Raumati, and would spend the evening walking on the beach. I took a lot of sharp images of the island, and once I had them in the bag, just started to play with panning the camera during long exposures.
I was happy with the results, and they were some of my favourite shots from the holiday.
Coal Creek Forest Interior
Didnt think much more of the long exposure shots until I was out taking photos with my daughter in the West Coast bush and I wanted to show her how to have fun and be creative with her camera. So we experimented again with long exposure shots, this time panning vertically to echo the trees. Again, came back with some shots I really loved.
Cobden Tiphead
So then I realised there might actually be something to all of this long exposure stuff, and I started going out to intentionally make things happen. Im fortunate to live close to coastal beaches, with lots of opportunities to experiment with the coastline, rocks, waves etc. The late evening light and a reasonably small aperture (f16) gives me plenty of long blurring shutter speeds.
Breaking Waves
Im enjoying shooting everything from abstract wave action, to more obvious landscapes. I find the natural movement of the waves helps to increase the blurring effect, but its not absolutely necessary to shoot around water - I just like it :-)
Cobden Beach
Theres so much scope to take this Intentional Camera Movement technique in so many directions, but be prepared to take LOTS of photos. I find I shoot about 100 of one subject, and maybe get two that I like!? Theres no set formula for how long to leave the shutter open, which way to move the camera or even how to move the camera. Shimmy, shake, rock and roll (or even pan if you have to) - its all good.
I plan to do some more forest interiors next. Got a few ideas for some very abstract fern images. Cant wait.
