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Lupine Drive By
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Lupine Drive By

by Harry Lichtman

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 4, 2016232 views9 comments
This image was taken in camera, but if moderators feel it should be in Photo Art that is fine.

I took several images in this style that were a result of unintended camera movement during my last post.  I bumped the camera./ tripod during exposure and created a blurred image that ended up being somewhat interesting.

So, I tried this technique purposefully later that day while my wife was driving, I was the passenger along the south coast of Iceland.  I chose colorful patches of lupine along the roadside combined with a great cloudy sky.  I found that areas of sun and shade gave additional interest in the images.  I panned the camera while we were driving at about 60 MPH.  During processing, I increased the clarity in RAW processing to highlight the streaking motion of the FG.

Not my typcal type of image so I would be interested in knowing if you think this works as a whole, of if there are portions that work better than others.  I have considered a little off the top, maybe too much clouds.

Thanks!

Nikon D810, ISO 31, 80-400 lens, 1/10 sec., polarizing filter

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Ed Lowe on January 4, 2016 at 10:45 AM
I like the thinking outside the box so to speak as you never know what you can come away with, Harry. I agree with your crop suggestion of part of the clouds; for me I think about half looks right. The intended motion comes through nicely on the landscape portion of the image and I think with to many clouds they just look disjointed from the rest of the scene. Just my opinion of course.

Ed
Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments
Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on January 4, 2016 at 12:39 PM
For me, these kind of movement blurs work the best when the results are kind of abstract. In this case, the clouds are not very abstract, so the upper half is not working for me unfortunately. The lower half is very nice on the other hand! Have fun exploring this technique!
Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 4, 2016 at 1:08 PM
Thanks guys - Roel, I agree and will look at some images that have more of the sky blurred to match the bottom of the image.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on January 4, 2016 at 1:32 PM
Very interesting idea.  As others have said some of it works well (lower half)  Perhaps the upper half can be tweaked in PS. 
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Zelinka on January 4, 2016 at 1:43 PM
I agree with Roel that this technique works best in producing totally abstract images, say if you had increased the exposure even more.
Registered on August 20, 2007, 206 Posts, 998 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 5, 2016 at 7:15 PM
I like the effect except along the line of mountains.  The clouds and foreground work well however.  You should try Ian Cameron's technique of a thin film of vasaline on an old filter if you decide you like this effect (horizontal smear for trees etc. vertical smear for waves, mountains etc.  It provides smother transitions than motion blur.  You can even have some portions in focus using the vasaline technique.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 5, 2016 at 9:48 PM
Ian,

A fun technique to be sure, but it sure seems like a crap shoot to me most of the time; ya just never know what you're going to get.

The color and motions in the bottom are appealing, but like other comments, the clouds and even the horizon line just don't seem to mesh and just seem like an accident rather than something you were trying to accomplish.

But we all like to have some fun no and again.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on January 6, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Thanks Eva for the ideas.  I will have to check them out.
Lon, the idea was actually to have things less planned and shoot when conditions seemed to offer the best chance for an interesting image.  I was surprised that while a scene might have had a ho - hum potential as a standard image, some movement made it more interesting.  Definately freeing compared to the usual planning!sad
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 6, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Hi  Harrycrying  Lon's comment echoed my thoughts perfectlycool

Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments