Tag Archives: abstract

ICM – A New Technique, A New Beginning

ICM, Intentional Camera Movement, is a new technique I am experimenting with. It is a method that requires a slow shutter speed and movement of the camera. There is a delicate balance between the amount of movement and shutter speed required so it takes a bit of practice and a lot of frames to get a memorable shot. But then what in life doesn’t require practice. 

I got interested initially by an YouTube video organized by SHECLICKS.  Charlotte Belamy is the instructor and shoots beautiful nature scenes using this technique and is super forthcoming with data. Roxanne Bouche’ Overton is another outstanding ICM artist and likes to shoot city scenes which I find interesting. I took a two day workshop with her and learned some great info and techniques. 

The easiest and most fun way to take photos using ICM is to use the hand-held method along with a shutter speed of 1/15 of a second or slower and very slight movements of your head to get motion.

Desert Rain f11 1/8 shutter speed

Another method is to mount the camera on a tripod and slowly move the camera. The image below I shot in studio using a tripod. My studio lights were turned on and used for ambient light. I liked this method and the results. But I have a tendency to like things close up.

Peach tulip photographed using ICM technique.

Achieving the slow shutter speed can be challenging at times so reducing the ISO and also the use of neutral density filters can help make that work.

Like anything, the only way to make great ICM images is to get out there and shoot them over and over again. The title of this post states “a new beginning”, and continual practice is where this comes in. Not only is it exciting to capture images that are unique, but I feel like I am beginning on a new photography journey, similar to when I first started taking photos decades ago.  It takes a lot of practice to get a good shot, I’m not sure exactly what I am doing and the results can sometimes be a disappointment. But when a keeper emerges it is thrilling!

Thanks for looking and more of my work can be viewed at www.susanmcanany.com.

Hermine Inspired Abstract Images

The past few days hurricane Hermine inspired me to experiment with some abstract techniques in the studio. Hurricane Hermine was a huge rain event where I live and capturing a few droplets seemed the perfect way to illustrate some of its effects.

This is a shoot I researched to help get out of the box with my thinking and boost creativity. I was working in studio and here is the general set up. The image consists of a mixture of water and oil in a glass container. This container is situated on plexiglass, elevated around 12 inches with a multi- colored cloth beneath.  There are plenty of video tutorials on line demonstrating this technique.  Although the technique did have its challenges, some of the results I found to be very inspiring thus the name of this post Hermine inspired.

The biggest challenge was finding a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the moving water. To create the bubbles, the mixture had to agitated by either gentle moving the container or stirring the mixture of water and oil. However, the agitation created movement of the water and oil causing images to be blurred at lower shutter speeds. On the plus side, it forced me to really work with the Shutter/Aperature/ISO matrix to get some good shots. As with many shoots the more images you take the greater the probability of succeeding.

Thanks for reading and I hope the next time you have some crazy weather in your area, you let your creative juices flow and make some art!

Hermine Inspired Images

“Bubbled Over”

hermine inspired abstract art photograph

“Cellular Activity”

Hermine inspired blue abstract art photograph

Check out more of my work at susanmcanany.com.

Yin Yang Effect

abstract photograph of blue swirlsHave you ever witnessed the yin yang effect in your life?  Well, I believe I experience it frequently or maybe it is some kind of mid life crisis. I especially see it in my creative interests.  One month I am photographing prisons and graffiti and the next I am mixing paints to create some vibrant macro abstractions guaranteed to make your eyes pop.

Or maybe the swing in interest is due to my birth date, which happens to be right on the cusp between the Zodiac signs of Cancer and Leo. I have been told at certain times it can (and does) create conflicting feelings and actions.  Cancer being the conservative homebody and Leo the outgoing risk taker.

There’s a theory in photography, a person should totally embrace what they like to shoot and focus only on that one interest in the hopes of achieving perfection. I certainly see merit to that, although, for me I also see a certain amount of boredom setting in.  I look at my portfolio and see a huge range of diversity and that is only viewing what is online .  Maybe it is due to the length of time I have been shooting or maybe it is the yin-yang effect in my life. I just don’t seem to be able to settle into something permanently. Once I shot a magazine containing portraits of 100 different woman from all walks of life. While the experience was fun, I learned a lot and met many different, wonderful women, I was happy when it was over.  Ready to get back to art.

Regardless of the cause, I am happy with opposite interests in my life.   Here are a couple of examples of what I have been working on from the Abstract Category on my website.

 

blue abstract photograph