IMPRESSIONISM
Impressionism
Impressionism is about the quality of light. It is about the
relationships of color, light and shadow, often including
reflections in water.
!
That is it in a nutshell.You are incorrect if you think it is more than that. Im guessing
more than one person is wondering about the application of paint in small colored
dabs. The artists were, with intention and purpose, controlling the colors, shapes,
sizes and rhythm of those dabs to create an effect of light. To be sure, they add an
extra element of participation from the viewer but those are artifacts of the act of
painting. Were not painters. Were photographers. Those dabs of paint by themselves
do not define Impressionism. Impressionism is all about the quality of light.
Impressionism
Following are some examples. Ignore the
application of the paint and concentrate on the
handling of light. Notice the multitude of color
within the shadowed and sunlit areas. In some
there is crystal clear sunlight. In others the light
is filtered by haze or steam.
The subject matter is wide open. As you will
see below, the compositions arent just
landscapes but the emphasis as always on the
light.
Think about the atmosphere.
Thats the key.
(cont)
Zooming
Soft Focus
Long Exposures
Zooming
Similar to the above
technique, this one is
intentional camera
movement too, but
instead of panning you
zoom your lens in or
out during the exposure.
Soft Focus
With this technique only a very very
small portion or none of the frame will
be in focus. The rest will be extremely
soft and painterly. It will be better to
use a lens that has a very wide
aperture opening (f/1.8 or 2.8 for
example) but not essential. It will work
best if you move away from your
subject and use a telephoto lens to
zoom in.
Long Exposure
This technique works well
on subjects that have
some motion such as
waves or shooting on a
windy day.
Remember:
Think about the atmosphere
Regardless of the technique you use, it
still has to be a good composition
Good luck!
Impressionist
PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES
For creating photographic works of art
by Eva Polak
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You will need: Your camera with manual exposure control, any lens, and optional ND filter(s) to block
excess light if necessary.
Begin by setting your camera to shutter speed priority mode and you are ready to create your first
impressionist photograph! Shutter speed of 1/10 of a second is a good starting point.
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I find great pleasure and satisfaction from working with camera movement, despite its somehow
unpredictable nature. Quite often the result is as much influenced by good fortune and happy accidents
as it is by skill and experience.
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Camera Movement
As the camera movement during exposure is going to strip your subject of details, it is important to
choose your subject carefully. Trees are usually very forgiving objects to begin with. They have very
strong vertical lines, and you can practice on them as long as you need to. Check often your results on
LCD screen and adjust your shutter speed or camera movement accordingly.
Points to Remember
- Take a LOT of pictures. Experimentation is
really the key to success.
- Mind your background. Strive for simplicity.
- Dont be afraid of making mistakes. They are
part of learning process. With every mistake,
youve just learned something new.
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Learning how to read and interpret your cameras EXIF data (Exchangeable Image File Format) can
be a valuable post-shoot leaning tool. It is permanent record of the exact camera settings used, including
aperture, shutter speed, focal length, ISO, metering, flash and white balance modes, plus the data and
time. Analyze how light, shutter speed and camera movement affected the way your subject matter was
recorded by your camera. Choose your favorite results and try to replicate it. The more you practice the
better you will become. Slowly, with experience you can move on to more challenging subjects.
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Final note
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Points to remember
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The
Visual Language
of Abstract
Photography
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As you can see, visual language is a tool that employs the power of symbols and association. When
mastered, visual language enables you to communicate way beyond just simple shapes and colours, and it
also helps you to appreciate art in general.
Tips to remember:
Give yourself freedom and dont worry about the rules.
Enjoy the creative process in which nothing is wrong.
Discover that there is infinitely more than just straight photography.
Above all have fun.
This article and all images contained are Copyright and courtesy of Eva Polak. Please contact the author directly with any questions.
The
Impressionist
Way
LEARNING TO SEE
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This article and all images contained are Copyright and courtesy of Eva Polak. Please contact the author directly with any questions.
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Impressionist Photography
s
Urban
n
o
i
s
s
e
r
mp
i
by Eva Polak
photograph, even in a small town. Full of colour, textures and patterns, everchanging urban landscapes gives endless opportunities to create exciting
photographs from the early morning right into the late hours of the night.
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The next time you photograph an urban landscape and its vibrant colours, bold and graphic
shapes, and intriguing reflections, allow yourself to be led by light. Hopefully you will find
subjects that will inspire you to take risk and explore new ways of seeing.
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PUSHING
BOUNDARIES
Impressionist Photography
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Points to remember...
Practice your normal approach/techniques on new subjects.
Give yourself permission to play. Experimenting is vital to the
learning process and is never a waste of time.
Remember that even tiny experiments and changes are
move forward.
Archive your results from the use of new techniques/
approaches, and look through them for ideas when you need
a creative boost.
Evas Books:
In addition to authoring the Impressionist Photography
series in the PhotographyBB Magazine, Eva also publishes
her own books on Impressionist Photography. Her
latest, Walking the Dog (among others) provide further
instruction and inspiration.
Editors note: If you have been enjoying Evas series on
impressionist photography, please consider supporting her
by purchasing one of her inspiring books.
This book (and others) by Eva Polak can be purchased by clicking here.
This article and images contained are Copyright and courtesy of Eva Polak. Please contact the author directly with any questions.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Impressionist Photography
AbstracT
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Evas Books:
In addition to authoring the
Impressionist Photography
series in the PhotographyBB
Magazine, Eva also
publishes her own books on
Impressionist Photography. If
youre looking for new ways
to unleash your creative side,
then check out Evas book,
Impressionist Photography
Techniques: A Step-by-Step
Guide to Creating Great
Images with your Digital
Camera.
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Impressionist Photography
IMPRESSIONS
OF AUTUMN
Photographs that evoke a mood such as drama, mystery, happiness, solemnness, suspense
or calm, usually attract our attention. This is because mood is difficult to pin down and
recreate. You cant reach out and touch it like texture, or see it like colour. Mood is a state
of mind, an emotional response to the things you see, hear or experience. If you want to
capture mood, let your own emotions guide you, so the images you take reflect how you
were feeling at the time.
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image, the impression of falling autumn leaves? Then, think of 3-4 adjectives that describe your
goal. You may consider your choice in terms of light, form, colour and technique. For example
light soft but direct for bold and strong autumn colours like yellow, orange and brown. Form
use of short oblique lines for dynamic and playful composition. Technique slow shutter speed
to emphasize movement and change.
As you can see having a clear goal of what you trying to convey will guide you through the
process of image making. Have fun and experiment!
Evas Books:
In addition to authoring the Impressionist Photography series in the PhotographyBB Magazine,
Eva also publishes her own books on Impressionist Photography. If youre looking for new ways
to unleash your creative side, then check out Evas book, Impressionist Photography Techniques:
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Great Images with your Digital Camera.
Books by Eva Polak can be purchased by clicking here.
This article and images contained are Copyright and courtesy of Eva Polak. Please contact the author directly with any questions.
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