“There is only one sun. We can’t all claim to only have one way to use the light, but we can REDEFINE how we choose to express it. “
Why are you passionate about this topic?
There is a beauty possessed in those in between moments, the moments that get us from one place to another. When you stop a motion you only see it as it is. When you capture the motion you are opening it up to possibilities and letting the viewer decide where it goes. I want to feel touched by a photograph, to feel the emotion, and where it might lead me. I want you to discover instead of being told.
When did you first learn this technique? Or, when did you first realize you liked this topic?
Almost as soon as I picked up a camera. Once I could get a shot that wasn’t black in exposure, orange skinned, and I understood depth of field then I was off and discovering every which way I could artistically break a rule. This is when long exposures, blur, and shutter painting became prevalent in my work. This is where I found images that move my soul.
What are the tips you would share with anyone trying to achieve this technique or subject/topic?
You can’t do slow shutter/long exposure photography wrong, it is impossible. It is a giant experiment and that is the beauty of it. Start at whatever shutter speed you can’t hold reasonably still and then try random speeds down from there. Try a 20th of a second, try 2 seconds, try whatever, just PLAY!
You can slow down the shutter, but also experiment in moving your subject at the same time. Again there is no right or wrong speed, it is just movement and you have to let go of expectations, be open to the beauty of what hits your lens.
Be aware that lighting will have a drastic impact here and you will have to be working to keep your exposure correct. However I use the term correct loosely because again that is where the art comes in, you can get some very dramatic results with darker exposures and movement, especially if the subject is dressed in light or vivid colors against a dark background.
Think of using loose flowing clothes. Think of capturing slow movement of just a body part. Think of capturing an object falling. Think of wind it is full of emotion.
Try shutter painting. This is where you have a stationary object and while you use a slower shutter speed you drag the camera. This can be a quick snapping movement of the camera or it can be a slow drag. This is fun to do with items that have lots of colors. I have done it with my shower curtain, legos, paintings on the wall, a beautiful sunset, the options are endless.
Don’t be afraid to be visionary with editing! You have let go of control just to be able to create these images, let yourself experiment with colors, light, textures in your editing to give it that extra punch. Don’t stop being creative here!
About the photographer:
Julie Ormonde is a natural and constant light photographer that shoots creative fine art photography. It is rare to see her work not breaking a rule or using creative editing to bring out emotion. She looks to produce thought-provoking images that show the heart and soul of life from a different vantage point than the eye sees every day. Often stripped down to a very minimalistic scene, her art showcases the emotions and thoughts so often hidden from view. She particularly strives to capture an artful view of all aspects of the human experience and does not shy away from the darker needs, emotions, passions and insecurities that make us who we are.
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