Creating a Painterly Image from Camera Movement

I have passed by this scene many times. Eventually I realized that what attracted me most about it was the serene pastoral feeling. So I decided to create a painterly image of a barn and pond in the mountains which would be unlike most photos. You can find a lot of advice for creating images that are “tack sharp.” And there are plenty of software options to process for sharpness. However, I am also intrigued by the look of slightly less sharp subjects, especially with scenes that remind me of classical paintings. Sometimes I will create a painterly look by slightly defocusing while also over exposing. Other times I will create two shots, one sharp and one slightly blurred. Then I combine the two for just the right amount of softness in the right places.

I used a different technique for this photo. I intentionally moved the camera while taking the photo. Small camera movements, repeated in several shots and then combined, can create an interesting look. These photos seem part painting and part photograph. Underexposure evened out the highlights in the barn and pond and gave me pleasing contrast and vibrancy.

I have to remind myself to turn off the camera’s shake reduction feature when using these techniques. And these images require more experimentation, adjusting exposure settings and changing the direction and amount of camera movement. It helps if you can previsualize your painterly version of a scene before you decide which of these techniques to use.

More extreme camera movement can create interesting abstract images. I have used that approach often with photographs of the ocean or flowing water. But I find they often do not have a good focal point, so I may combine an image with extreme movement with another more stable version. The two images can be stacked to allow adjustments in how much of the sharp image shows up in the final photo.