ICM - Wet Woodland Walk: Whilst holidaying in Cornwall I wanted to try some ICM (intentional camera movement) shots as, although a bit trendy at present, I rather liked some of the...

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Whilst holidaying in Cornwall I wanted to try some ICM (intentional camera movement) shots as, although a bit trendy at present, I rather liked some of the effects achieved. It's an unpredictable pastime, and one I received some strange looks for from passers-by. This, as the title indicates, was taken in a wet woodland. How do you like it? You know I can take it, so don't hold back!

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

The effect works well on everything except the main subject - the woman/girl. If there was some way of rendering her a bit less obscure....

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

I must be a sucker for this stuff, I like it very much. I like it as is without color, and for me this serves as an example of how something abstract can appear to have greater reality than a realistic image. This is the stuff of dreams - it is timeless. I want to do my dog like this -- Can you explain how you did this? Was it a long exposure with a series of short movements? I would have guessed a fantastic job in post with textures, I find this a very cool effect.

Lazy Old Coot Loc: Gainesville, Florida

The longer I look at it the more I like the idea. I do find myself wondering if some color might make it even more interesting, perhaps just a little color in the ghostly image of the girl. Just my two cents worth. ....... Coot

magnetoman wrote:

Whilst holidaying in Cornwall I wanted to try some ICM (intentional camera movement) shots as, although a bit trendy at present, I rather liked some of the effects achieved. It's an unpredictable pastime, and one I received some strange looks for from passers-by. This, as the title indicates, was taken in a wet woodland. How do you like it? You know I can take it, so don't hold back!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I love this image! The trees came out super-duper and the figure adds such a dream-like quality.

I tried yours with a much lighter look and I like it equally to the dark. I also tried cropping a bit off foreground, but it's better with the figure further back as you have shown.

I've done a few (longer shutter speed, pan from bottom upwards) ; none came out very good. It was one exercise in an online class I took with Kathleen Clemons. Here are some of hers:
http://kathleenclemons.blogspot.com/2015/05/camera-movement-fun.html

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

R.G. wrote:

The effect works well on everything except the main subject - the woman/girl. If there was some way of rendering her a bit less obscure....

I did wonder about that RG - my wife is walking away from me but the only non-idm image taken at the time has her facing me - anyway, I've tried to drop her in, probably a bit ham-fistedly, but here's the outcome.

(Download)

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

pfrancke wrote:

I must be a sucker for this stuff, I like it very much. I like it as is without color, and for me this serves as an example of how something abstract can appear to have greater reality than a realistic image. This is the stuff of dreams - it is timeless. I want to do my dog like this -- Can you explain how you did this? Was it a long exposure with a series of short movements? I would have guessed a fantastic job in post with textures, I find this a very cool effect.

Glad you are tempted by it. Theres are no textures used, it's all camera movement and simple contrast adjustments in pp. I didn't have my ND filters with me (always doing this, I just don't want to carry too much!), so couldn't get a very long exposure - this is 0.4sec at f22 - longer would be helpful and the filter would have controlled the light. Take a dozen to get one usable as some movement doesn't work with the particular subject - I have discovered vertical movement works well with vertical subjects, but try moving in all directions over several shots and see what's best. It's definitely a bit hit and miss but you do get better at it (I'm told!).

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Lazy Old Coot wrote:

The longer I look at it the more I like the idea. I do find myself wondering if some color might make it even more interesting, perhaps just a little color in the ghostly image of the girl. Just my two cents worth. ....... Coot

Does work with colour, just depends on the subject and personal choice really. Many thanks for commenting, it's appreciated.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

I love this image! The trees came out super-duper ... (show quote)

A nice link Linda, many thanks - trees certainly lend themselves to this treatment, and, personally, I think a figure to give it scale and extra interest is good too. I have also done some sea shots that required a different sort of movement and I struggled with light again because the ND was at home, but got one or two I like. Want to try some sailing boats when I can.

I did try the foreground crop and agree with you.

Lazy Old Coot Loc: Gainesville, Florida

Linda, The next to last one on Clemons examples is somewhat like the OPs photo and I think the color she used adds a lot of interest. By the way, the nest time I go to our local botanical garden, I think I'll try to do this in their Bamboo grove. ....... Coot

Linda From Maine wrote:

I love this image! The trees came out super-duper ... (show quote)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Lazy Old Coot wrote:

Linda, The next to last one on Clemons examples is somewhat like the OPs photo and I think the color she used adds a lot of interest. By the way, the nest time I go to our local botanical garden, I think I'll try to do this in their Bamboo grove. ....... Coot

Maybe magnetoman would be willing to host a share thread or challenge, to which we could all post our attempts?

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

Maybe magnetoman would be willing to host a share thread or challenge, to which we could all post our attempts?

I'd be happy for anyone to post there efforts here - let's see as many results as possible!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

magnetoman wrote:

I'd be happy for anyone to post there efforts here - let's see as many results as possible!

Thank you, mm! I'll try soon and hope others will too.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

magnetoman wrote:

......I've tried to drop her in, probably a bit ham-fistedly, but here's the outcome.

I think there are pros and cons to what you did. There's probably an optimum level of obscurity and softness that works best. The bit that I found most inappropriate is the bright area just above her head, caused no doubt by her fair hair. Maybe if you just darkened that lightened part, or perhaps slightly darkened the area immediately around her (but not the figure itself) to give her form a bit more emphasis. (That last suggestion might give the impression of an ethereal figure emerging from the darkness - it's hard to tell without actually trying ideas out).

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

R.G. wrote:

I think there are pros and cons to what you did. ... (show quote)

OK RG, here's the last try at this one, I think it's an improvement but you may not agree?

(Download)