David Terao
November 2023 - Electric Twirl
Original
About the Image(s)
This month, I've been experimenting with intentional camera movement (ICM). I've never tried it before, and it's not really my thing, but our camera club has a competition coming up with that theme. The problem is that ICM images are so subjective. What appeals to me might not appeal to you. This image was taken just before sunrise at the Redondo Beach pier near Los Angeles using a circular motion starting with the camera upside down and rotating it 180 degrees. Exposure was 2.5 sec @f/11 and ISO 200. I'm also including an "original" shot of the subject without rotating the camera. I'm curious about your thoughts of this image.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
13 comments posted
My experiments with ICM have involved vertical or horizontal movements of the camera on a tripod or twisting the focal length ring on a zoom lens. I have never tried moving the whole camera as you appear to have done. My feelings about ICM are mixed. I like it better if I can identify the subject and there is good colour in the image. Many striking ICM images are taken in wooded areas, for instance, with vertical camera movement taking the trunks of trees but getting the colours of the surrounding foliage as well. Now that autumn/fall is here we might get some good colourful and identifiable images. Posted: 11/01/2023 04:14:03
Thanks for your feedback, Robert. You're right about different styles of ICM. In this image, I was striving for more of an abstract image without a recognizable subject. I've tried some ICMs with more recognizable subjects. But, I've seen too many of those trees-with-vertical-panning ICM images that they don't appeal to me at all. There is a photographer/YouTuber, David Day, who does ICM in creative ways using wire, colored paper, small pieces of dead plants, etc. and comes up with some striking and unusual ICM images. Posted: 11/01/2023 07:44:23
We have several people in our camera club that do ICM. For me, the success of ICM is based on the composition and you have a nice compsotion here. Love the colors too. Good luck with your club composition. Posted: 11/08/2023 10:45:52
Thanks, Cindy. After giving this image some thought, I came to the conclusion that if I submitted it to an ICM competition, it probably wouldn't do very well because it is too abstract. Judges of ICM images would more likely be looking for impressionistic painterly images. So, I've shot a few of those types of ICM images that might be better for the competition. Here's an example of one of my impressionistic images. This was actually shot the same morning at the same beach as the abstract image, but with a little more sunlight. Posted: 11/08/2023 12:02:24
This is really lovely!I think it would do very well. Posted: 11/26/2023 12:27:08
I like your second image and think it will do much better in your club competition than the first image you posted based on what judges currently go for in this area. It fulfils my criteria of being colourful and recognisable and I think the bird gives it a great deal more interest. Good luck. Posted: 11/09/2023 10:52:29
Thank you, Robert. I'll play it safe and go with the more recognizable image. I'll use the image above for an abstract photography competition. Posted: 11/09/2023 11:39:33
The photographic possibilities using ICM are endless. Posted: 11/19/2023 22:17:34
I find ICM fun and addictive, at least for now. Posted: 11/27/2023 05:42:43
I think what would make the abstract ICM more interesting would be clean curves, not wiggly. But I agree with the others: ICM is so subjective. I have taken endless vertical ICMs of aspen trees in the fall and I can't seem to get it right. I really like your beach scene ICM. It has a dreamy look but you can recognize where you are. Beautiful colors! Posted: 11/26/2023 12:48:20
Yes, I agree smooth curved lines would look better in an ICM image. But, they are hard, if not impossible, to create handheld. They can be created with a camera on a tripod with a lens collar though. Posted: 11/27/2023 05:46:01
I have seen ICM images and I enjoy the very creative production of ordinary scenes. The colors and geometric patterns are very appealing to me. The photo is created from the origin and it present the abstraction of beauty which I appreciate very much。 Posted: 11/27/2023 03:31:22
Thank you, Bai! Posted: 11/27/2023 05:46:35