Lichen on boulder (sorry - er...well....um...creative version)

Last post was made keeping the camera still and allowing the main subject (a river) to wander in a roughly circular motion around the frame.

This time I kept the subject still - well it was a half ton boulder so it wasn't going anywhere in a hurry - and moved the camera instead.

Not eveyone's cup of tea I'm aware, but as I'm not really into photoshop alteration and much prefer the challenge of in-camera experimentation, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

I'm fascinated by shapes in nature and, for example, the symmetery of seashells and their similarity to things like the curve of a fern, the echoing of that shape on the fronds, the whorls in a tree knot, and the line water will take in a whirlpool, or through a landscape creating oxbows and cut-offs. The whole worlds within worlds fractal thingymabob is kind-of where I was heading with this one.

Is it any less appropriate a treatment of the subject than a slow shutter speed image of a starling flock in flight, or wheeling knot, in that it fundamentally alters the 'appearance' of the subject through the slowness of the shutter and the movement that follows from this - whether that movement is subject OR camera generated?

If you think it is less appropriate maybe you could tell me why? (I have an open mind!)

Canon G9, 1/6th sec, F8, ISO 80, 7.4mm lens, slight contrast adjustment, full frame.

Works for me,nice to see subjects portrayed in a different way,Lichens are not usually my cup of tea but this works,lichens visable in the centre swirling out to a blur!!!


Well conceived!!!


Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

Nice effect...I saw Pete doing this last year...

I think I like it.

Ian

Great shot John.. I wouldnt have known what it was if you hadnt have put lichen in the title. Nice effect. Thanks for showing.

Works for me John its nice see something a bit different

All been said . I like it.
JohnR

Hi John,

Very nice, well executed technique and the rust colour from the lichen is tops!

Cheers,

Lewis.

Works for me all day long - I love this kind of thing

Superbly executed John. Not only do I lack the vision to see these type of images I doubt very much that I could get a result as smooth as this.
Robert

Very different. I looked at this image a few times before deciding if I like it or not, in the cold light of day I have decided I do! The swirling gives the shot a FUR like feel to the lichen. Its good to see someone stepping outside the box.

Tony

I am with Robert on this one. I don't think along these lines, but I do enjoy the results from those who are able to think outside the box.

David

This would look great on a big canvas, I really like it, good thinking John

Simon

You beauty. I'll be trying this later!

Cheers,
Chris

Very effective!

David

Would I have thought about doing that kind of thing..? NO..! Will I now..? Yes.. Always welcome new ideas and approaches to wildlife images. This is great thinking..

Brett

Very 'arty' and very nice John, beautiful

Thank you all for the positive feedback! Wasn't sure how this would be received. All the artfarty stuff aside, the capabilities of modern compacts like the G9 never ceases to astonish me. There was a group with me and some really got into this, despite the peeing rain which had had them diving for the minibus a few minutes earlier.

Does some fool pay you to do this sort of thing??!!

Great stuff as ever - especially given the weather (which didn't improve by the way).

Pete

That really works John - this type of stuff doesn't always for me but the concentric patterns are spot on here.



Mark