Session 2: Mid-Summer Masterclass: Impressionist Photography Series
Session 2:
Movement and Emotion – The Heart of Impressionism
Breaking Free from Sharp and Static
Impressionist photography isn’t about technical perfection—it’s about capturing feeling. This session explores intentional camera movement (ICM) and emotional storytelling through blur.
Essential ICM Techniques:
- The Gentle Sway: Hold your camera loosely, sway gently while shooting at 1/15th second. Perfect for forest scenes and flowers.
- Vertical Pan: Follow tall subjects (trees, buildings) with slow vertical movements. Creates painterly streaks of colour.
- Zoom Burst: While shooting, slowly zoom in or out. Works beautifully with flowers, creating explosive bursts of colour.
Emotional Triggers:
- Loneliness: Shoot through rain-streaked windows or use slow shutter speeds with solitary subjects
- Joy: Capture children playing with motion blur, or use burst mode during laughter
- Nostalgia: Photograph old objects with soft focus and warm, muted tones
Pro Tip: Set your camera to manual focus and slightly defocus your lens. This creates dreamy, soft images that feel like memories rather than documentation.
Post your images on our Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/878244939696285
Use #MidSummerMasterclass when sharing your work—I’ll be personally commenting and celebrating your progress!
To go dipper check out this Summer ICM Guide—an 98-page, richly illustrated resource packed with practical techniques, creative exercises, post-processing tips, and seasonal inspiration to help you make your most expressive work yet.
Get it here:
About Post Author
