Return From Whenever
It seems like a longtime since I’ve added a post to this blog and since I did any camera-motion abstract photography. Well today (Sunday, September 11, 2016) I did take my camera out, put on a neutral density filter and cranked the shutter speed down to 2 seconds. The day was cool, wet and gloomy but I imagined to find some color and these interesting images:
Chicken Scratch
Broken Spiral
Rosy Glow
Darkness in Light
Cherry Blossom
Splash of January Color
Color can be hard to find for months during the long Edmonton winter.
However, with a bit of light and a long exposure photograph …
Urban Dreammares
Even when out walking about taking photos I like to mix things up. I might shoot images that I think have the form to work well as black and white and then I will shift gears, drop my shutter speed way down and generate some camera motion abstracts.
Here are a selection of photos from my recent photoshoot in Calgary, where I abstracted images in the downtown area. There is a suggestion of the hard lines of urban forms but they are softened and there is a sense of familiarity but you can’t quite focus and identify the forms.
City in Motion
Hanging
Between
Passage
Alley
February 17 Abstracts (Part 2)
In my previous post I shared 5 abstract photos from a 2014 February 17 photoshoot. Here are another 5 from that particularly creative and productive batch.
The Corner of My Eye
Blues Three
Brick and Blue Alley
Swimming in Blue
Urban Abstract 8636
As with most of my previous abstract photos, my basic technique is to use a long exposure (made possible by a neutral density filter) and then move the camera in a particular direction during the exposure. Post processing to emphasize color and contrast is usually also required.
Someday, I am looking forward to using some of these photographic images as inspiration, starting points for large paintings.
Heartbeat Abstractions
Sometimes creative success comes upon me by happenstance. Today I was on my way to the studio to do some painting and as it was a nice morning I decided to walk through the river valley and take my camera with me. As I was leaving I realized that I didn’t have a polarizing filter with me but I did have my neutral density filter so I changed plans and decided I’d focus on some long-exposure camera motion abstraction,since it had been awhile since I’d done any photography in that vein.
As I reached the river valley I noticed runners, lots of runners, with numbers – there was a race going on. It was the Edmonton Heartbeat Run and that was very fortunate as it gave me lots of (moving) subjects and color to work in to my abstract photos. I snapped away, unsure of what I was really capturing but when I got home and processed the images I was quite pleased with what I had:
Abstracts in Blue
Not much to say about this group of photos, other than that they were all taken using long (4 seconds) hand-held exposures with deliberate camera motion. The early morning time of day is responsible the dominating blue cast to these images.
Blue Fenceline
Abstract 356-033
Abstract Landscape 356-038 (River in December)
Abstract 356-034
Abstract 356-039
November Ice
Three abstract images from photos taken this morning in Edmonton’s river valley but first the natural look of the river:
The North Saskatchewan River in central Edmonton on Nov. 25
This long exposure photo was taken from near the same viewpoint but also included some brush from the near bank:
November River Abstract
This next image captured the river at an angle with a snowy foreground:
River and Snow
and finally another composition featuring bands of color from the open river, frozen river, river bank etc.:
River Bands
First Snow – Abstracted Landscape Photos
Today (2011 November 12) Edmonton had its first (and unusually late) snow of the season. While there are many thing about the snow I am not a fan of, I have been looking forward to applying the camera-motion abstraction technique that I’ve been playing with in recent months, to the snowy landscape. Here are some of my first results:
Abstract Landscape 326-379
Abstract Landscape 325-383
Abstract Landscape 326-390
Abstract Landscape 326-397
Abstract Landscape 326-410
As with my previous photos in this style, the original intent was to give me reference images for paintings. However, so far I have not been able to create a painting that I like as much as or better than the photo (which is okay – for now).
My basic technique in this style is to use a neutral density filter to allow me to get a 2 second exposure. During the exposure I move/shake/vibrate the camera around vigorously. Post processing usually is required to increase contrast and color saturation.
The Mid-August Blurs
Five photographic experiments from today (2011 August 18).As I have been playing around with recently, the name of the game is motion-abstraction (i.e. using a slow shutter speed and moving the camera during the exposure. For something different I also combined zooming the telephoto lens while sweeping the camera on some of these shots:
Indigo Blur
With Indigo Blur I took advantage of some colorful deep blue flowers that I came across in a neighborhood flower bed. I use a straight horizontal pan of the camera to create the abstraction.
Abstract 110818-067
Abstract 110818-056
Motion and zoom to abstract that last one with some sunflowers, as with these next two which were taken downtown:
Abstract 110818-094
Abstract 110818-090
Photos in the Rain
You might think that rain and photography don’t mix – I did. First there is just the hassle of trying to keep your camera dry or your lens unspectled. Today I decided I was going out with my camera (Nikon D80) and just tucked it under my rain jacket, pulling it out only for a quick shot. I also mad a point of keeping the lens pointed down when not in use to minimize the possibility of raindrops striking it.
Perhaps a bigger deterrent to taking the camera out is the fear that there will not be anything to take a picture of. The environment looks very devoid of color – just grey and green everywhere. Also it is relatively dark so one is forced to resort to higher ISO and/or lower f-stops for handheld shots. Or….one couldchange their approach.
Today, that is what I did. I decided I would deliberately go with slow shutter speeds – like around 1/4 second! I wasn’t going to worry about holding the camera steady. In fact I was planning to deliberately move it during the exposure ( a technique I have been playing with recently). I thought this approach was quite successful. I captured a number of images that I was quite happy with. In fact, I think the camera motion added signifcantly to reinforcing the feeling of rain – the directionality and blurring.
Rainy Street
Stairs in the Rain
Forest in the Rain
Fence Posts in the Rain
Dawson Park in the Rain
Color and Movement (Part 2)
This is a continuation of my previous post where I shared some motion-abstracted photographs. Here are a few more from that shoot on a windy, cool evening in July after a rainy day.
Abstract 110708-527
For most of these photos I used a shutter speed of between 1/4 and 1/10 of a second with a shutter priority setting. I like to sweep the camera horizonatlly for a general landscape image. The speed of the camera movement as it relates to the shutter speed is something I am continuing to experiment with.
Abstract 110708-520
The vertical structure of tree trunks invites vertical movement of the camera, such as in this image:
Abstract 110708-483
One aspect that I quite like about these motion-abstractions is how the movement blurs out the elements of the urban environment. These images were all taken in the city but you dould easily think they were from a rural environment.
Abstract 110708-518
The wet streets also create some great reflections and invite vertical camera motion
Abstract 110708-489
There is lots of fun to be had in exploring this unconventional idea of deliberately moving the camera and blurring the image. I love the effect and will continue to explore. Have any readers explored this technique?
Color and Movement
Here are a number of abstracted photos taken on a cool July evening after a rainy, windy day. As I have been experimenting with recently , the technique is one of using a slow shutter speed (1/4 to 1/10 sec) Â and moving the camera during the exposure.
Post-rain Evening
Abstract 110708-519
Abstract 110708-529
Evening Landscape
Abstract 110708-536
I like the way motion can be used to blur the image, to obscure details that can distract from the strength of the color and patterns at the core of the image.
Randall Talbot - Artist 