I am learning from Nalinki and her gorgeous photos and tips, explained in her post Available Light, how to paint with light in photography. In fact it is about practicing with long exposure and zooming in.
I was supposed to take a tripod and get somewhere steady, not on a boat, to start my learning session. As I was readying myself, my husband and I decided to go for a boat ride instead, as it was a gorgeous evening with warm temps, those that we rarely experience and cannot miss in Amsterdam.
Change of plans.
Just for fun, I played with light, as suggested by Nalinki and fulfilled my hidden dream to be an abstract painter. Just kidding!
Now I will take through my experimentations.
First try
The first two shots I made after sunset and still got the gorgeous pink colors in the sky. No post processing here to get the pink color, just what the Olympus E-M10 can do. I just let the boat move and waited for the results.
I made the third and fourth photos in the same way.
I played a bit with the camera though, in the last two shots. In the first one I moved the camera, like panning. For the second one I zoomed after a few seconds. The first white ball is the moon, by the way.
Second try
The next two ones are different. Still on the boat, but we stopped it and I tried to do panning handheld.
Final try
It was a nice evening playing with light on the boat but I still hadn’t done what I wanted. So we went out another day to shoot a bridge close by. Tripod was at hand and no boat was part of the adventure this time.
I first shot the bridge. Then I zoomed it once. Then 3 times. Then I did panning and to close the play I tilted the camera. The last tow shots just for fun.
So, please don’t take me seriously as I was just learning to paint with light with low shutter speed.
Making the photos from a boat, by no means is a try to make a statement that I don’t care about technique. I am learning to do that because I find it so beautiful and want to do it right.
Till my next try.
Sights & Insights 
Lucile, these are striking images. I’m most drawn to the first for its abstract and painterly qualities.
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Thanks Sally, that is a very nice thing to say.
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I think they all look beautiful. Good job.
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Thank you so much, Julia.
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I love the handheld panning shots–I can’t wait to try that. I don’t have a tripod…… As for the last picture–the white moon ball….I think you made an abstract painting! It is awesome!
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Thank you! Try it regardless of having or not a tripod. Most were handheld. And I am not that stable!! Lol
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Very cool lessons here Lucile. I love the “zooming once” shot in particular. You’re making me feel lazy now, I’m going to have to go out with the tripod!!
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I’m sure you’ll love this. This zooming function is über cool!
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Well I’ve always wanted to be über cool 😉😜😋😘
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But you’re! 😍😘😎
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Awesome 😎😍😘
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Love the first few images with the abstract feel to them!
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Thank you Sue. And those were not the ones I expected anyone to like it!
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Oh, I do like a bit of abstract!
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These are such lovely photos, Lucile. So what if you were playing and if you are still learning…they are so fun and show that, even if you still have a lot to learn, you are already very much a skilled photographer in many ways. I love the way the light blurs in many of these. It adds a unique and artsy touch to each photo.
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Thanks! Again you hit the nail in the head with insightful comments. I think I’ll stop saying that I’m learning because it really doesn’t matter. Thanks.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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😀
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I love the abstracts too. You are, indeed, a master abstract (light) painter. 🙂
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Thank you! It seems that what was supposed to be a failure, my abstracts, have been well accepted! Yay!
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Love them!
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Thanks.
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I love the soft colors!
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Thank you Tildy!
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Love the abstract painting effect. I tried to do some night sky shots in the national park without any light Pollution in complete darkness. suddenly, there was an unkown noise (probably a deer, but I did not think logically in that second). I jumped up and ran back to the car. maybe, I have seen too many horror movies ….
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Lol you may have seen many horror movies but that may have saved your life as well.
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You can call them artworks , not only photos!
Love them all, but my faves are those of the second try…
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Thank you Anna, you’re very kind. The second ones turned better than I had expected.
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The one where you zoomed in once is great, I want to try that too.
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I thought that zooming in more times, although producing a very cool effect, requires really a super steady hand, even with a tripod, as it can blur a bit.
That’s why I also liked better the same as yours.
There were some shots of 5 times zoom that turned super beautiful with effects, including star effects, but I didn’t post them.
It’s so much fun doing it, and I’m sure you’ll like it.
Just a little tip: find building place with plenty of light and go not too late in the evening. It was too dark around the bridge and the photo gets a bit dull.
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Looks like you had a great time trying these techniques! Love the zooming once of the bridge and that first shot with the pink sky is so beautifully abstract. Experimenting with photography is so great!
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Oh yes, more fun than I ever thought. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and visit!
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They all look much amazing, well done Lucile ☺
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Thank you so much. Glad you liked it!
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This was a success 🙂
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Thank you Paula.
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These are great. I love the first one especially as it is so different and the colours are amazing. Well done!
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Thank you Debbie!
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I absolutely love these, shots, Lucile! So much like a painting so interesting with the play of “smearing” the lights. I have a cheap camera but I want to try to play with this, too!
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What a lovely comment, Barbara! Thank you.
You can try with any camera, seriously. Give it a try!
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That is absolutely stunning. Your photos are now on super-professional level…
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Hello my dear, please don’t destroy my humility! I’m not a professional at all. But your lovely comment puts a smile on my face. Thanks!
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You must be a professional because I’m an amateur, and since you’re the better photographer, how could you be an amateur too? #logic 😀
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Nice try, but here is my reasoning. You are writing zillion pages for your Phd thesis and therefore your mind is overly focused on literature. Your tunnel vision at the moment, does not let you see, beyond the already magnificent skills you have with words, that you have exceptional eyes and sensibility, which makes you a super duper photographer. Clear now? xxx
PS. How are you doing, my dearest?
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Oh my dear, you totally outsmarted me. Now I’m somewhat worried about my argumentation skills and hope that those who’ll read my just completed dissertation will not notice that I can’t argue a thing 😉 Thank you for your kind words and greetings!
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Finally! lmao Don’t worry as I won’t tell them! When you will do the defense of your dissertation, you’ll be brilliant, I am zillion times sure. Take care my dear!
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Thank you zillion times! And take care too.
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Thanks, dearest!
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Lucile, these are wonderful. I tried panning with the handheld camera once and got some great abstracts, but haven’t really done anything like these. New inspiration is always good and I also really need to learn how to use my camera beyond point and shoot. I’ve never taken the time to find out what all the bells and whistles do. 🙂
janet
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Thanks much Janet! You should really take your camera and try to do some shots. You are going to love it, I am sure. If you read the posts from Nalinki and Perelincolors, and follow their tips, you will see that in a while you get the tricks and experiment more.
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Very cool!
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Thank you!
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It looks like you were having great fun taking these beautiful photos. They really do catch the eye and would look great in a frame on one of my walls. I’ve not done much photography but your photos do inspire me to go out there and take some more.
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Indeed I had great fun! And what a compliment! It is a very nice thing to say, Hugh.
I am glad my photography inspired you to go out there. Do it, as you won’t regret it!
Thanks for the considerate comment.
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As usual, Lucile, your photos are stunning. Your first attempt you say? Hmmm, not sure I believe that….you are truly talented and have the eye for composition as well. Can’t wait to see what you will capture when you get “good” at this, (LOL!)
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hahaha, it is very true! I am amazed that the ones I made from a moving boat are the ones most people like. So, as you know, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Even wen I mess up with long exposure photography, there is a possibility for someone to like it.
So, give a try too. The most important is that we have fun.
Cheers!
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I love all the colors. The sunset is gorgeous. 🙂
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Thanks much, Deborah!
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These are marvelous. (*he’s hiding the H-word in a paper bag here*)
I love the brightness of the colors. AND, I tried taking a night shot and moving the camera, too, because I’m trying to be like you and DO stuff. And I like the way mine came out, way more “impressionistic” (meaning, unrecognizable) than yours. But still, cool.
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Thank you! You are so sweet to hide the H word! And hey, I want to see your impressionistic photos too. I bet they are stunning. Maybe you posted already! I haven’t been blogging for a few days. I’ll check it out.
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Hey, I do have one I really like, but do not have time to post it now…as I’m only in Part 2 of a 5 (or 6) Part travel story…
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I’ll wait for it! No problem.
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Of course, you may have to remind…unless you keep posting photos like this, which will remind me.
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I’ll try to do both! 😉
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These photos are absolutely stunning! You are incredibly gifted. Perhaps my favorite of your posts thus far.
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Thank you for such a considerate comment.
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Love, love, love these images Lucile. And thank you for sharing the settings you used. Very helpful.
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My pleasure to share it. I learned from Nalinki and Perelincolors and can now share what I learnt too.
Thanks, Lisa!
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I love the concept! 🙂 I like all the ‘rosey’ ones but the one that grabs me is the lady on the bike against the greenish background. 🙂
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Thank you, Jo. The one you like the most is the one where I actually did something, instead of just playing with the camera. I had to learn how to do this and it was very nice and difficult at the Dave time. I hope to be able to do it again.
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Some day I’ll sign on for the lesson! 🙂
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Anytime! Just read the post and experiment when you feel like. And if you ever need tips don’t hesitate to ask.
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