A few ICM images...

Steelo

Steelo

Messages
2,654
Name
Martin
Edit My Images
No
I know ICM isn't to everyones taste, it's very marmite, but I've been working on some for a wee while now for a blog I've just written up for Benro UK. Just thought I'd post some into here.....enjoy, don't enjoy, feel free to crit....so long as it's not about "you should have used a tripod" because for some I did :p :D

Luskentyre sunset ICM by Martin Steele, on Flickr

Luskentyre beach sunset ICM by Martin Steele, on Flickr

Bosta Beach ICM by Martin Steele, on Flickr

ICM trees by Martin Steele, on Flickr

ICM Trees 2 by Martin Steele, on Flickr

ICM Fence by Martin Steele, on Flickr

Dunbar Bluebells '17-4 ICM by Martin Steele, on Flickr

Boarhills church ICM by Martin Steele, on Flickr
 
First two are very good in my humble opinion, I could also see the fence shot working well if the background was less busy
 
sirch said:
First two are very good in my humble opinion, I could also see the fence shot working well if the background was less busy
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris, appreciate the comments. The first two, I think I found it difficult to take a bad image standing on Luskentyre Beach lol :)
 
1, 2 & 3 are fab for me. Just the sort of stuff I keep trying to do (amongst other things) :) ... 4,5 & 6 don't work so well, they jar with me and just come across a cocked up shots (sorry best way I can think of explaining ...) The bluebells is an almost, but having said that I quite like it ... and the last one is a miss too for me the white wobbly line ruins it I think, be better without that.

I'd maybe level the distant sand line in #2 even if that is how it is ...

Oh and you should have used a .... ;)
 
On the first 2 I like the way that the wave break is fairy static and the movement shows in beach, the rest of the water and the sky. It must have taken some practice to do that.

The tress in the 4th one I like as well, I take it that you moved the camera to the left on that one.

The vertical movements don't work for me.

I thought ICM was just a short term gimmick, but I might have a go myself.

Pete
 
PaulButler said:
1, 2 & 3 are fab for me. Just the sort of stuff I keep trying to do (amongst other things) :) ... 4,5 & 6 don't work so well, they jar with me and just come across a cocked up shots (sorry best way I can think of explaining ...) The bluebells is an almost, but having said that I quite like it ... and the last one is a miss too for me the white wobbly line ruins it I think, be better without that.

I'd maybe level the distant sand line in #2 even if that is how it is ...

Oh and you should have used a .... ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, not sure how I managed to miss how unlevel number 2 is...but it's ICM so i'll live with it, maybe LOL!! The bluebells one was one of the first times I tried ICM so it's kind of posted on that merit more than anything. 4,5 & 6 were done after a back injury put me out of any sort of more than roadside action when up on Skye, although I like them, so :p lol

The last one was kind of an unintentional movement one, when I was shooting and the light broke so picked up the camera and ran back to where I was LOL!!


seaodyssey said:
On the first 2 I like the way that the wave break is fairy static and the movement shows in beach, the rest of the water and the sky. It must have taken some practice to do that.

The tress in the 4th one I like as well, I take it that you moved the camera to the left on that one.

The vertical movements don't work for me.

I thought ICM was just a short term gimmick, but I might have a go myself.

Pete
Click to expand...

Thank you Pete, the Luskentyre Beach shots (1&2) are probably my favourite ICM images, I still have loads to even process from there, and I really got the ICM bug when up on Harris/Lewis, the beaches just lend themselves to ICM so easily.

Number 4 would have been moved right to left, yeah. I seemed to have settled along movement horizontally for sure.
 
Steelo said:
Thanks Paul, not sure how I managed to miss how unlevel number 2 is...but it's ICM so i'll live with it, maybe LOL!! The bluebells one was one of the first times I tried ICM so it's kind of posted on that merit more than anything. 4,5 & 6 were done after a back injury put me out of any sort of more than roadside action when up on Skye, although I like them, so :p lol

The last one was kind of an unintentional movement one, when I was shooting and the light broke so picked up the camera and ran back to where I was LOL!!




Thank you Pete, the Luskentyre Beach shots (1&2) are probably my favourite ICM images, I still have loads to even process from there, and I really got the ICM bug when up on Harris/Lewis, the beaches just lend themselves to ICM so easily.

Number 4 would have been moved right to left, yeah. I seemed to have settled along movement horizontally for sure.
Click to expand...

So did you move the camera and then stop to get the trucks showing more, I was thinking that it would be easier to move the camera after a short while. I guess the results are more or less the same.

Pete
 
seaodyssey said:
So did you move the camera and then stop to get the trucks showing more, I was thinking that it would be easier to move the camera after a short while. I guess the results are more or less the same.

Pete
Click to expand...

The shutter speed was only 1/6th, so what I would do is start panning before I press the shutter, then hit the shutter when the frame I want comes into the viewfinder..... It took a lot of experimentation with shutter speed before I settled on this one. I'm actually now starting to think I moved left to right, it was a while ago I took the shot, so can't remember, but you'd think the trunk would be static at the end of the exposure....
 
I'm not a huge fan of ICM's in this style Martin, always seem to be a bit of an afterthought IMO. I've said it a few times on here but the real experts of ICM and ME shots are the guys who specialise in them like Doug Chinnery and Andrew Gray. Too many people are willing to pan a camera on a beach and get horizontal streaks of colour to make pretty patterns. Yes I know that kinda sums up ICM, but for me personally I prefer them to be more impressionistic and abstract, images that draw the viewer in.

This is more the ICM that I like: http://andrewsgray.photography/galleries/latest/ well worth a visit if anyone here likes ICM.
 
Really like those, particularly 1 & 2.

Never tried ICM photos, so set a slow shutter speed and shake the camera right?! :)
 
I've learnt something here, hadn't heard of ICM before, now I know. #2 is my favourite - enough detailed retained but with a good balance of movement too. They look fun to do and I love the pastel beach colours. Painting with light. Thanks for sharing.
 
Neil Burnell said:
I'm not a huge fan of ICM's in this style Martin, always seem to be a bit of an afterthought IMO. I've said it a few times on here but the real experts of ICM and ME shots are the guys who specialise in them like Doug Chinnery and Andrew Gray. Too many people are willing to pan a camera on a beach and get horizontal streaks of colour to make pretty patterns. Yes I know that kinda sums up ICM, but for me personally I prefer them to be more impressionistic and abstract, images that draw the viewer in.

This is more the ICM that I like: http://andrewsgray.photography/galleries/latest/ well worth a visit if anyone here likes ICM.
Click to expand...

I know what you're saying Neil, but then I guess everyone interprets ICM differently just as they do any other genre. Personally I love Leeming : Paterson's work too, which is abstract and stunning. I prefer to keep a bit of detail in my ICM's rather than going all out abstract, if that makes sense?

https://www.leemingpaterson.com/Leeming-+-Paterson/Light-+-Time/1


wibbly said:
Really like those, particularly 1 & 2.

Never tried ICM photos, so set a slow shutter speed and shake the camera right?! :)
Click to expand...

That's pretty much it Dave LOL!! :D

jazzycat said:
I've learnt something here, hadn't heard of ICM before, now I know. #2 is my favourite - enough detailed retained but with a good balance of movement too. They look fun to do and I love the pastel beach colours. Painting with light. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...


Thank you Abi :)
 
Last edited:
@Neil Burnell just checked out that link of yours, and whilst I like them in a way, they're just too abstract for me, as they literally could be of anything anywhere, and possibly not even a photograph they're so abstract. Huge respect for something like that, I'm not slating it, but it's certainly not my kind of thing.

Maybe not giving them a name or place would work better for that kind of image, as the Bamburgh one for instance, I know what the village is like, and there's nothing in that image that represents it....but then I guess that's the style of impressionistic art that they do :)
 
Last edited:
#1 + #2 are beautiful. Not a huge fan of ICM myself and even less so the types that no longer ressemble a photo, but the 2 aforementioned are very pleasing to the eye (y)
 
Steelo said:
@Neil Burnell just checked out that link of yours, and whilst I like them in a way, they're just too abstract for me, as they literally could be of anything anywhere, and possibly not even a photograph they're so abstract. Huge respect for something like that, I'm not slating it, but it's certainly not my kind of thing.

Maybe not giving them a name or place would work better for that kind of image, as the Bamburgh one for instance, I know what the village is like, and there's nothing in that image that represents it....but then I guess that's the style of impressionistic art that they do :)
Click to expand...

Fair enough Martin, think you have slightly missed my point but never mind! At the end of the day you obviously like what you have posted and if your pleased with them, that's the main thing! :)
 
RichieTee said:
#1 + #2 are beautiful. Not a huge fan of ICM myself and even less so the types that no longer ressemble a photo, but the 2 aforementioned are very pleasing to the eye (y)
Click to expand...

Thank you Rich :)


Neil Burnell said:
Fair enough Martin, think you have slightly missed my point but never mind! At the end of the day you obviously like what you have posted and if your pleased with them, that's the main thing! :)
Click to expand...

I didn't miss your point, just my opinion differs to yours ;) My ICM images certainly weren't an afterthought either. As the saying goes, we can't please all of the people all of the time, and I'm only doing it for me anyhow, so I'm fine with that :)
 
These are all
Steelo said:
Couldn't agree more that it's a tough one to try and get right, but then I guess everyone's rights are different also :)

Always welcome the feedback though.
Click to expand...

Yep also depends on what standards you set yourself I suppose, and whether it's something you practice and perfect or just something you enjoy doing :)
 
Here's a good example of a nice beach one that still keeps elements but at the same time is more than just a camera waft. Might be more up your street than Andy's!

https://BANNED/markcornick1/status/910429673330495488
 
Neil Burnell said:
These are all


Yep also depends on what standards you set yourself I suppose, and whether it's something you practice and perfect or just something you enjoy doing :)
Click to expand...

It's certainly more of a 'enjoy doing' than spending so much time doing them I forget why i'm in the location I am in the first place, that's for sure lol!

Neil Burnell said:
Here's a good example of a nice beach one that still keeps elements but at the same time is more than just a camera waft. Might be more up your street than Andy's!

https://BANNED/markcornick1/status/910429673330495488
Click to expand...

Aye see, that is fantastic, much more my kinda thing. It's still just camera wafting though, but with the right conditions....pretty sure it'd look crap on a drab rainy typically British day....maybe we should rename it lol :D
 
Steelo said:
It's certainly more of a 'enjoy doing' than spending so much time doing them I forget why i'm in the location I am in the first place, that's for sure lol!



Aye see, that is fantastic, much more my kinda thing. It's still just camera wafting though, but with the right conditions....pretty sure it'd look crap on a drab rainy typically British day....maybe we should rename it lol :D
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure mate, I've seen Doug do moody ones like this on dull days and they look superb, the main skill is getting the right movement IMO, yes it's wafting a camera but the better shots are very skilled! I suppose that's the point I was trying to get across earlier, the guys and shots I've referenced are more perfected , only because they shoot them every day/week and are experienced???
 
Last edited:
Neil Burnell said:
I'm not so sure mate, I've seen Doug do moody ones like this on dull days and they look superb, the main skill is getting the right movement IMO, yes it's wafting a camera but the better shots are very skilled! I suppose that's the point I was trying to get across earlier, the guys and shots I've referenced are more perfected , only because they shoot them every day/week and are experienced???
Click to expand...

Oh aye I get what you're getting at, I've followed Doug for years now and his work is exceptional. I know there's more to it than just wafting the camera about, I was being a bit tongue in cheek with that comment of mine saying that, but once you get that right movement, it works. I just don't like the over abstracty stuff like in your first link, which you do.

I guess if we all liked the same thing or all had the same opinions, it would be a boring, same old world we would live in, and this is where photography is such a subjective art form, because one mans idea of what he likes, is something another really doesn't. :)
 
Steelo said:
Oh aye I get what you're getting at, I've followed Doug for years now and his work is exceptional. I know there's more to it than just wafting the camera about, I was being a bit tongue in cheek with that comment of mine saying that, but once you get that right movement, it works. I just don't like the over abstracty stuff like in your first link, which you do.

I guess if we all liked the same thing or all had the same opinions, it would be a boring, same old world we would live in, and this is where photography is such a subjective art form, because one mans idea of what he likes, is something another really doesn't. :)
Click to expand...

Yep, think I'm just sick to death of beach scene ICM's with panning movement as they are done to death! At the moment I'm half way through judging a Photocrowd Seascape comp and have seen 50+ similar style shots, theres nothing that makes them stand out unfortunately. One ICM seascape has made the top 10 tho, its inclusion of textured grass in the foreground, coupled with the right amount of movement (not just panning) and nice subtle tones made it stand out.
 
Last edited:
Neil Burnell said:
Yep, think I'm just sick to death of beach scene ICM's with panning movement as they are done to death! At the moment I'm half way through judging a Photocrowd Seascape comp and have seen 50+ similar style shots, theres nothing that makes them stand out unfortunately. One ICM seascape has made the top 10 tho, its inclusion of textured grass in the foreground, coupled with the right amount of movement (not just panning) and nice subtle tones made it stand out.
Click to expand...

It's just the same as whacking a 10 stopper on for the sake of a long exposure I guess. Done to death by every man and his dog, yet people still do them, some great, some not so....like every genre, people have their own takes on it, and that's fine. What pleases some, doesn't please others.
 
Steelo said:
It's just the same as whacking a 10 stopper on for the sake of a long exposure I guess. Done to death by every man and his dog, yet people still do them, some great, some not so....like every genre, people have their own takes on it, and that's fine. What pleases some, doesn't please others.
Click to expand...

100% agree Martin, no one is original these days! I will say tho, the more you practice something the better you get, and its good to aim high in the particular genre you chose!
 
Neil Burnell said:
100% agree Martin, no one is original these days! I will say tho, the more you practice something the better you get, and its good to aim high in the particular genre you chose!
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more....I wish I was as good with a 10 stopper as you....but then LE's aren't really my thing either. I just see the ICM as a bit of fun to while away the moments until the real show begins....hence not spending and dedicating a lot of time to it. It frees my mind up to concentrate on my usual work, it's fun, not something I ever take seriously, although neither is my usual stuff, but the ICM is just a bit of fun before the real work begins.

I enjoy it, I like what I produce, I'll never be 'amazing' at it (although one mans amazing is anothers s***e anyhow lol) as it's not a genre i'll ever want to do all the time.

Give me a frisky sea and decent clouds any day of the week...
 
Last edited:
The first 3 are nice enough examples of ICM, they're pleasant although I'd perhaps lean towards more what Neil is saying with more abstract images. To my eye ICM is most effective when it hints at the subject. The last 5 really jar and the tones aren't that pleasant, regardless of how clear the subject is. The one you posted after the first set I thought was much better, but as you've said you prefer producing images which are more clear in their subject matter.

Problem with ICM is it's so far removed from what most folk can identify with in terms of producing an image that it makes it extremely hard to offer any meaningful critique beyond 'I like that' or 'I don't like that'.
 
Last edited:
Steelo said:
Couldn't agree more....I wish I was as good with a 10 stopper as you....but then LE's aren't really my thing either. I just see the ICM as a bit of fun to while away the moments until the real show begins....hence not spending and dedicating a lot of time to it. It frees my mind up to concentrate on my usual work, it's fun, not something I ever take seriously, although neither is my usual stuff, but the ICM is just a bit of fun before the real work begins.

I enjoy it, I like what I produce, I'll never be 'amazing' at it (although one mans amazing is anothers s***e anyhow lol) as it's not a genre i'll ever want to do all the time.

Give me a frisky sea and decent clouds any day of the week...
Click to expand...

Think you hit the nail on the head there Martin, it's a nice side project to try, and they are pleasant enough takes, and your enjoyment is the main thing. You are known for your more traditional landscapes, especially the more moody ones, and IMHO the quality of these doesn't match your traditional landscapes, hope thats fair comment?
 
Neil Burnell said:
Think you hit the nail on the head there Martin, it's a nice side project to try, and they are pleasant enough takes, and your enjoyment is the main thing. You are known for your more traditional landscapes, especially the more moody ones, and IMHO the quality of these doesn't match your traditional landscapes, hope thats fair comment?
Click to expand...

It's a fair point mate and I 100% agree. I'll still mess about with this as it's good fun, but still a bit of a challenge, but it'll never take over from my usual work, as I just love capturing my moody stuff....and now the seasons changing, i'll be back to that very soon :D
 
Number 2, much more than No 1 for me. Can't really tell you why though.

Others personally dot do it although ither birch tree ones do interst me but No 2 would be worked on further in between working on the real images ;)
 
Jim_Tod said:
Number 2, much more than No 1 for me. Can't really tell you why though.

Others personally dot do it although ither birch tree ones do interst me but No 2 would be worked on further in between working on the real images ;)
Click to expand...
MrDrizz said:
I really like the second one, the reflection looks almost rainbow like.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys :)
 
I really like the first 2 with the second being my favourite!, id like to see the blue bells one as a "normal" (For want of a better word!) photo also as the colours look stunning!
 
First couple are super Martin. The others are a bit hectic for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top