Abstract in-camera movement – also known as ICM photography, or intentional camera movement – is my craft. I love taking photos of everyday objects and changing their perspective and form with movement: it takes the audience on a journey.
I was diagnosed with Asperger’s at the age of 12 and severe OCD later, which led me to face challenges such as talking to people and making friends; it has often led me to feel lost. But for my fourteenth birthday I got my own DSLR camera, a Nikon D3100. I fell in love with it, and photography magazines inspired me develop my passion for capturing images.
I then discovered YouTube and began to teach myself photography. I went from a dark and lonely place to becoming invested in an art form that takes my focus away from the negativity in my life. My journey so far has been very difficult, but photography has helped me express my emotions in a safe way.
The technique of ICM (moving the camera while the shutter is open) now makes up most of my portfolio (www.jamesmoore.photography). Every photo is unique.
ICM works almost every time, so anyone can experiment and get good results right away. With this photo you can still tell what the subject is, but you can also see the movement that was made by the camera.
In this photo, I love the way the trees flow down the image. I processed it into black and white through Lightroom Classic. The image reflects an emotion I was feeling at the time I was taking the shot in the woods. I love taking in-camera movement shots, as you never know what you will get.
I love this photo because the subject could be anything and it takes the viewer’s eyes on a journey. I see myself as an abstract photographer, as I take and see
photos from a different perspective. I also love to edit my photos in black and white to add drama and emotion.
With this photo, I used the zoom to make this effect. You have to make sure your settings are properly set for a long exposure, so say an aperture of f/22 and shutter speed of one second. Then, while the mirror is open, zoom in and out to get this type of effect.
