About the Image(s)

I captured this intentional camera movement (ICM) image at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., using a Nikon D850 with a 16-35 mm lens set to 35 mm (f/22, 1/3 sec, ISO 31). The golden hour light bathed the scene in warm tones, creating a luminous reflection of the sky, trees, people, and the Washington Monument. The atmosphere reminded me of the Impressionist paintings I deeply admire, so I sought to evoke their brushstrokes with my camera. Using a handheld long exposure, I moved the camera gently upward while the shutter was open. I captured several variations with shutter speeds between 1/4 and 1/2 second, and this one resonated with me the most. The original image was vertical, but I later cropped it into this horizontal composition to emphasize the monument’s reflection and the tranquil rhythm of the scene.