WORD-A-WEEK: BLUE / SUNDAY POST: CONCEPT
“Impressionism – an artistic style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than achieve accurate depiction. ”
Sue’s Word-of-the-week challenge “Blue” combines nicely with Jake’s Sunday Post Challenge “Concept” . To address both challenges, I’ve chosen the “concept” of Impressionism in photography, and have illustrated it with some very “blue” shots to begin.
The great masters like Monet and Renoir understood that art is meant to evoke emotion, and does not necessarily have to depict subjects precisely. Rather, they chose to paint in soft, moody colors those scenes which caught their attention, and consequently, ours.
“Impressionism means taking inspiration directly from nature, trusting your senses rather than what you think you know.”
Michael McClure
Photography offers many techniques to create similar moodiness in our art. For example, the great blue heron in the opening photograph above seems to be floating in space because of the softness of the water all around him – created using a wide open aperture. The marsh scene which follows it was done simply by shooting the reflection of the clouds in the water rather than the sky itself.
Panning, used to create the mystical hillside scene above, is done by moving the camera very slowly using a long shutter speed. It can be done horizontally (above), or vertically (below) depending on how the photographer “feels” the scene.
“The power of the suggestive is much greater than the statement of reality.”
C.W. Mundy
One final method, a bit more challenging, is to swirl the camera while taking a long shutter-speed photo. If you press the shutter release just before beginning the swirl, you can create the feeling of a ghostly image such as the pinecone below.
Technique not-withstanding, most important is the feeling the photographer has for the scene, and hopes to elicit in the viewer. Here then, a few additional impressions for your viewing pleasure.
“The job of the impressionist is to say just enough without forcing the story on the viewer… detail kills imagination.”
Colley Whisson
“For an impressionist to paint from nature is not to paint the subject, but to realize sensations”
Paul Cezanne
And finally, in addition to the all-important quality of light, the impressionists sought to capture the feeling of motion in their art. Although not a nature shot, this last is one of my favorites photographs. It was shot from a car window as we were driving through a forest fire and for me evokes the commitment and determination of the firefighters rushing to their work.
Here’s to the courageous among us, not only the obvious (such as the firefighters), but also those like the early impressionists, who throughout history have shown that rules are made to be broken, and that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
- Wings Over Water – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @150mm, f/5.6, 1/5000, ISO 2000
- Calm After the Storm – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @120mm, f/5.4, 1/400, ISO 400
- Lines – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @95mm, f/36, 1/10, ISO 100
- Catching the Light – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @44mm, f/29, 1.3 sec, ISO 200
- Ephemeral – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @170mm, f/10, .8 sec, ISO 200
- On the Vine – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @70mm, f/32, .8 sec, ISO 100
- Autumn – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @80mm, f/9, 1/100, ISO 800
- Tranquility – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @200mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 500
- Just a Drop – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 @105mm, f/5.6, 1/15, ISO 250
- Songbird – Nikon D/300s, Nikkor 18-200 details unavailable
- Warriors – Nikon D/90, Nikkor 18-200 @120mm, f/4.8, 1/6, ISO 400
Glorious!
Thank you Cindy
Sent from my iPhone
Great photos. I only dream of being as good some day.
You shortchange yourself. Your photos are gorgeous! Thanks for the compliment though, and for stopping by.
hi Tina,
now I notice:
blur is soul soothing!
It is, isn’t it?! Thanks FT
Found your beautiful blog via Vicki. Wonderful article and photographs.
Thanks Louise! loved your comments on color.
Pretty cool!
Thanks LV!
Reblogged this on For the Love of Clouds and Living Things and commented:
I was so happy to find this post yesterday.. it expresses my desire for For the Love of Clouds and Living Things, ” to capture feelings or experiences rather than achieve accurate depiction.” (from the definition of Impressionism in this post).. it seems that the backgrounds of most of my photos are as important to me as the subject matter. I hope that this re-blog will touch others as it touched me.
Thanks for the reblog Vicki, and for your lovely comments.
thank you very much for this post. it really spoke to me as to my own blog.. your photographs are wonderful and I look forward to your new posts..
Very, very nice, Tina.
Thanks Tom!
Sent from my iPad
Every single one of these is FABULOUS and my FAVORITE! Outstanding.
LOL, thanks so much Jeannie!
LOVE these, Tina…..especially first one. Talk about complementary colors! Have you ever had them developed on canvas?
Thanks Diane! No, I’ve never printed them. Maybe I need to think about it tho!
You keep outdoing yourself and we reap the rewards of sharing your talent. These are amazing and wonderful! Any chance of a workshop? Mary Lynn
Hi ML, thanks for the lovely compliments! Actually, i was going to do one but we got 2 fabulous outside speakers instead, which I’m very excited about! New tricks, hurray!
Too beautiful! Amazing capture. Thank you, Tina!
Thank you Amy. Appreciate your compliment AND your comment.
These are amazing images 🙂
Thanks Sue!
Love impressionistic images. Thanks.
Me too 🙂 thanks Jane!
Sent from my iPad
What a wonderful collection of images. They draw you in and make you look for more. Chris G
Thanks so much Chris. Love your blog!
Wings over Water, Tranquility, Autumn, Songbird just fabulous. Of course remembering driving thru the very close fire makes Warriors extra special.
Lucky Husband
Thank you dear!
This is a wonderful piece., and you no doubt know your camera intimately. Bravo!
Thanks very much for your kind comment!