Amateur Photographer – 06 July 2019

34 6 July 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

Jo Stephen

Jo is a self-taught photographer who has worked in nature

conservation and the arts. Her photography documents the

nature and changing seasons around her home in north

Dorset. She uses creative techniques to communicate

her connection with the local landscape. See more at

http://www.jostephenphotography.wordpress.com.

ALL PICTURES © JO STEPHEN

I

took up photography

for creative expression

after working for many

years as a glass blower. I

think this is one of the reasons
I’m drawn to working with
intentional camera movement
(ICM), which is where you

move the camera while the
shutter is open to create
abstract effects. I then combine

this with multiple exposures

(ME), in camera or in post-

processing, of layers of images

to create new and abstract

effects. The combination of

flowing colours and layering of

textures and forms mirrors the

creative processes I used when

creating hand-blown glass.

My photography is

almost entirely shot

Blurring

Jo Stephen shares her top tips for

creating abstract and impressionist

images using intentional camera

movement and multiple exposures

Technique

JO’S TOP TIPS

Vertical panning

This works well with subjects like trees,
grasses and reeds. I always shoot handheld
but if you’re having trouble getting crisp,
straight lines a tripod could be used. Be

careful to pick an area clear of horizontal lines
such as branches, or pan quickly if this is not
possible to keep the image clean.

Layering multiple

ICM images

This works best for images with strong lines,

such as the vegetation in this picture of the

River Allen. I then combined layers with motion

in different directions. By using the overlay or

multiply blending modes in Photoshop these

elements can be emphasised.

Elements moving

your subject

The image above was taken in strong wind.

I held the camera still and let the daisies

move through the exposure. To pull out

some detail from the flowers I took a second

shot at a high shutter speed and layered this

over the blurred image.

boundaries

the

A dragonfly rests

and is the only static

part of the image

while the rest of

the scene is built

up around it