B&W Challenge No. 65 - Blur

[alexr]

For this month's challenge I was searching online through some different suggestions of themes for inspiration, and one caught my eye here. Of his suggestions, the theme I'd like us to try is 'Blur'. The idea is that you use blurring, either through camera movement or the movement of the object, or by zooming, or however you see fit, so that the viewer cannot quite tell what they are looking at, thereby making an abstract, or nearly-abstract image that makes the viewer want to look at it deeper to understand it. By doing this in black and white also removes any extraneous complications due to colour, so the focus is all on the form.
I hope that makes sense, and I hope it also helps inspire us all to try something a bit different - I know it is well outside of my comfort zone. I am fascinated to see what this talented community cones up with.

[pontiac1940]

Thanks Alex.
Will give it a go.  

[VickiD]

I really like this challenge, Alex--Thank you! When I read it, I thought back to the first time I learned to use my lens to 'zoom blur' on a photo shoot with a bunch of friends, back in October, 2007! I went back and grabbed one of the photos and used Nik Silver Efex to convert to B&W. This may not be the best photo, but I was thrilled to learn how to do this. The conversion was made using a preset I had created. Again, thanks for a great challenge, Alex.

[pontiac1940]

I used the ever-popular and highly-technical method: camera shake. 

Miasma of the Universe 

[VickiD]

Here's another ICM...this time it was vertical movement of the camera with a longer shutter speed. I really like these in B&W.

[hmca]

Really like the one above, Vicki.

[tonyw]

As I was in a gym today with a camera I had to give this a try - handheld zoom blur. Could be better - need to work on my technique!



Tony

[fotofrank]

Thanks for this Alexr. A double exposure with a Lensbaby.

[kdcintx]

Tree leaves moving camera in a semi-circle

i.ibb.co/2SFY3nq/NIK4465.jpg


Tree leaves moving camera vertically upward

i.ibb.co/vYt4DZJ/NIK4460.jpg

[tonyw]

This was fun - a nice sunny day so found a stand of trees, set the camera to maximize the exposure time (I used f22, ISO 80 which gave 1/10 sec exposure and moved the camera vertically while taking the shot.



and did the same with cattails by a lake



Tony

[billz]

Thanks Alex!

Tower of Power.



Looking up from under a power line tower this morning. Clockwise ICM for the blur, BW conversion in ACR.

The "try to hold still" image from the same spot is below.

[hmca]

And one from me today, too. The dock area on the river.....
Used ICM for the blur.

[tonyw]

I had to look up ICM and having found what it stands for I ran into this series of articles which look really interesting - here's Part 1 Intentional Camera Movement Photography, Part 1

Tony

[VickiD]

Tony, thanks so much for the article(s). I may even turn this subject into a presentation to my camera club...of course, my club is in a 55+ community so the members might be a tad resistant. LOL
Still, a great resource!

[alexr]

Thanks everyone for such great entries. Whenever I propose a new challenge I am always worried about how successful it will be, yet every single time the brilliance of the forum members immediately shines through.
None more so than the first entry by VickiD  which is a wonderful example of what I was hoping for. The zoom blur shows great dynamism and plenty of interest.
pontiac1940‘s image is a complete contrast, but just as lovely. I love the calming nature of it, refined by the vertical symmetry and the interest provided by wondering what the element in the bottom right is, a dust storm perhaps?
Another VickiD ICM image shows just enough detail to know what it is, with the sepia finish adding another dimension.
I like and appreciate what tonyw was trying for, just enough unblurred to show the subject and to retain the texture of the netting.
fotofrank put their usual skilful spin on the challenge with a double exposure that left part of the image sharp and the blur increasing as it came out radially. It creates an image that at first could be an animal, maybe with feathers, until you realise it is leaves and fronds. Lovely.
kdcintx creates two contrasting images of lovely texture, I really like the shadows of the first and the embedded scratchiness of the second.
tonyw, I do like your next two of trees, by choice I feel the first works better with the path leading you into the image, but the second is a lovely background ‘wallpaper’.
billz thanks for showing both before and after which is great for us trying to come up with something decent. I really like the ‘time tunnel’ vibe.
hmca you must have a really steady hand with your ICM as those masts are really sharp along the edges, which adds yet another great dimension.
Thanks all for such great entries so far. I am humbled, as always.