That was yesterday, the last day of May; we were at our summer house. I took some photos on my iPhone of one corner of our grounds. My husband is having fun with his chainsaw, clearing the area of small spruce trees to let some light into the corner and make it look nicer, as it was overgrown and not at all pleasing to look at. Well, it doesn’t look that way now either, but hopefully soon.
This I took with my Olympus – lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8 while sitting on my patio at home watching the oak leaves starting to open from the warmth of the sun.
Oak tree buds
I also took these during the weekend, I was sitting on my sofa and playing with my new camera and decided I would try the ICM zooming again as I was not impressed with my earlier efforts, this time they are slightly better, still need to continue the efforts Sony A7 III, Lens 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6
Let’s get this out in the open right away: when I saw this challenge, I was SO out of my depth. I don’t have a tripod, nor do I use any filters, and I rarely shoot in manual mode—my comfort zone has always been in more intuitive settings using either aperture or shutter setting. I am all but a technical photographer; instead, I am all about composition and mood, focusing on capturing the essence of a moment rather than worrying about technical perfection. The idea of embracing an entirely new approach left me feeling insecure. I was terrified, and although maybe that is a bit too strong a term, daunted is more like it. The prospect of experimenting with techniques outside my usual repertoire felt a bit overwhelming, yet at the same time, a small flicker of excitement began to form deep within me, urging me to push through the apprehension and discover what I might learn from this experience.
I did do it, I took SO many, most photos were just rubbish. I am so glad it’s digital photography; otherwise, I might have felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of shots that didn’t turn out as expected. The challenge hosted by Annefrom Slow Shutter Speed is all about zooming, which is an intriguing technique that falls under the broader category of Intentional Camera Movement. In this case, instead of moving the entire camera, you simply move the lens back and forth to create a unique visual effect. This approach yields photos of a different kind, capturing the motion and essence of the subject in unexpected ways! So I found out after experimenting with it myself. The results were surprising, and I discovered a new appreciation for movement in photography. For anyone interested in exploring this technique further, please go to her lovely blog, where you’ll find very useful information and guidance on how to tackle this one effectively, enabling you to unleash your creativity and take your photography skills to new heights.
Bursting of spring’s vibrant greens of birch tree’s, showcasing the beauty of new growth through ICM
Now to the photos I took. It is spring, a season that always brings a sense of renewal and excitement, and I venture as far as my backyard to do this – and against advice on a sunny day, with not that much shade. The first one is maybe my favorite 👆, capturing the vibrant colors and the fresh scents that fill the air during this beautiful time of year. After a few sunny days, the spring just burst into life, showcasing a dazzling array greenery – and this shot kind of says that, reflecting the joy and energy that surrounds us as nature awakens.
There is this yellow wisteria in the front of the house that exploded with this style.
Juniperus chinensis was my next subject I tried the zooming on – these three were presentable.
An artistic representation plant, showcasing vibrant colors and motion through intentional camera movement.
Once again – I found backlit plant – I wanted the different shade that the green to pop and hopefully follow my zoom movements. Zoom in or zoom out – I don’t know which one worked better as I took so many shot that are placed in to the bin.
An abstract capture of backlit foliage
When you post, please remember to link to Anne’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. I really enjoyed seeing your post on Tina’s challenge, “The First Thing I Thought Of.” It’s amazing how a picture has so many different interpretations depending on how you caption it, and I loved the positivity and smiles I got this week.
I’ll be leading next week’s challenge again; it is rather soon after my last challenge, but it will be something we haven’t done before. Hopefully, you will join me next week. In the meantime, keep on smiling; it just might be someone’s high point of the day. And it is contagious :-d
ICM photography is super cool! It takes us beyond what we see every day and shows a whole new world that often gets missed in regular photos. These are all new photos from the past week, I have tried this before, but I have been a stickler for sharp and focused shots, so I haven’t really experienced it other than accidentally – mostly. These are my results and I am happy with few of them.
Into the woods I go, sideway movement
So, ICM, is all about using a slow shutter speed while moving your camera around on purpose. Instead of capturing everything in a crisp, clear way, this technique lets things blur and create a dreamy vibe. Shapes and colors blend together, making for some really interesting images.
Path many times photographed, this time with a twist.
These shots capture the feel of a scene instead of just what it looks like. The crazy mix of colors and shapes can stir up emotions and thoughts in a way that regular photography just can’t. You can play around with it too—I did some swirling, vertical panning, and horizontal shifts to really make the most out of ICM. But this is a style like every other that need to be practiced. I think I would achieve best results in night photography without a tripod.
walk between the trees
When you share your post, please link it to Ann’s post and use the Lens-Artist tag. In the meantime have fun learning and experimenting with ICM.
waves
Last week we all had fun picking images from the past as Sofia had us looking back last week. I enjoyed seeing your wonderful memories. For sure memories are gold.
Next week is my week, and I hope you will join me in a discovery of photographs with emotions. Until then keep smiling.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 