Inspired by members of this group, I've been experimenting with some ICM images.
I'd love to know what you think. What do you like? What don't you like? What could I improve?
Please excuse the dust spots etc. - these are all straight from the camera.
Hi Mike, thanks for posting and it's great to see you experimenting.
I'd like to throw your question back to you - what do YOU feel about these, what do you like etc?
I have two favorites but will hold back for now to allow others (and perhaps you) to voice their opinion.
As to the dust spots, I suspect you had the aperture set way down (f22?) to get the slow shutter speed you were after. I would suggest shooting at a wider aperture to help limit this issue - this may require purchasing and ND filter (6-stop is widely recommended for this type of work), or a polarizer may offer you 1 or 2 stops.
As for improving it is all about taking MANY shpts and experimenting with subject, movement, speed etc to discover what suits your own taste.
For inspiration you could always subscribe to ICMphotomag (which has an addition coming out in June), and/or join the related Facebook group.
The latter is also a great place to get feedback on your own work as well as viewing that of others who are on the same path.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/icmphotomag
Great work - keep on pushing that envelope!
#1 is so creative. Nice eye for composition and colors. I really love it (especially if the exposure was increased a bit in post to brighten up).
#2 Did you rotate over water? I love the composition - half of the circle with the center at the bottom of the image. Also the highlights are great.
#3 Beautiful colors, ICM pattern, and positioning of the trees!
#4, #5, #6 Wonderful horizontal movements!
I always appreciate your work, Mike! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks so much Alan and Jenifer for your comments.
Alan - you're right about the dust spots. I do actually have some ND filters. My challenge, shooting with an aeging DSLR, is that it can become difficult to see through the viewfinder... I'd like to upgrade to something mirrorless before too long; in the meantime I've purchased a blower so I can attempt to keep my sensor clean.
Jenifer, #1 is actually straight from the camera, shot at dusk. I loved the colours and strong, repeated shapes of the beach huts.
#2 is in fact looking up, not down - the white is blossom, and the ripples are camera movement ("shake and rotate"!).
My favourites are #4 and #6 - #4 for the colours and textures working together to give the impression of a landscape, with rolling hills in the distance, and #6 for the flow of the smooth curves across the subtle texture behind.
Ha, I have the same problem Mike. A 6 stop ND is just about the limit of usability, I keep my 10 stop in the bag....
I haven't really considered a mirrorless camera, does that get round this issue?
Good luck with the sensor cleaning.
Ah, not just me then.
I actually got to try out an EOS R last weekend. (I don't know what's available internationally, but in the UK Canon let you test drive a camera for free for 48 hours, an offer I was happy to take them up on!)
It did "exposure simulation", whereby the brightness of the EVF and screen match the brightness of the final image. I suspect newer DSLRs with a live view mode may do the same, but not my 350D...
I'm keen to hear which are your favourites, by the way.
Wow! That's so cool about #2. I really thought you rotated around moving water. That's cool! You're right about the impression of a landscape in #4 and #6. They're beautiful! What are the original photos?
PS: Regarding sensor cleaning - I JUST watched this video moments before seeing your post - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQBR9AJ1Obc
Thanks Jennifer, and thanks for the video. I'm traveling at the moment but will definitely check that out.
I've not edited any of those images (yet), but #4, #5 and #6 are combinations of flowers, shrubs and trees.
Hi Mike.
I usually do not try this genera though. Sharing my reflections for pure art of these images.
All of these frames has unique story to tell. Image#1 has perhaps a degree more of the obviousness and Image#2 is a little weak for my perception among posted.
In my opinion, Post processing is an integral part of photography art form. Image 3, 4,5,6 need tonal upliftment. These images need to be enhanced to attract and hold the vision and then state how they want the viewer's vision to move (or not move).
Image#5 and 6 particularly more appealing to me for their abstractness, rhythm and patterns. They have good potential of enhancing colour harmony.
mundane aspects of sensor dust and noise are no longer mundane for images to command highest discipline for self.
Cheers. happy clicking.
Hi Vijay,
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my images and to comment on them.
You are right that editing takes discipline - I'm usually too eager to go out and take more photos instead!
I would like to get better at editing though. Are there particular tools you would recommend for the type of tonal adjustments you are thinking of?