Aspen Blur

[Andrew McLachlan]

I had a few minutes to kill a couple of days ago while on my way to pick up my daughter from school. What better way to pass the time than to stand at the side of the road and shoot blurs of a small aspen grove, while the folks in the passing cars are trying to figure out 'what's up with that guy?'

I turned on the VR function on my 80-400mm lens to see if I might get a different result from my blurs...not sure if it contributed to this blur effect, but I kinda like it.

Look forward to comments.

[Steve Adkins]

I'm always intrigued by different treatments/visions of common objects. This is a marvelous example, Andrew. Great idea and execution. The motion direction (combined with the slight angles of the trunks) and the soft tones are a perfect combo.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Andrew, this image has that combination of graphic and organic feels that I like a lot. Am I understanding correctly, that you turned the VR function ON for this shot, so it's a combination of slow shutter speed and optical stabilization?

[Matt Fragale]

I like this! It's sort of the shaken up twin of the Ansel Adams image that first made me say "oh, wow..." about a photograph. Nicely done. I love the feel of it and it brings that memory for me, so thanks!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Andrew, this makes a wonderful abstract - it could be a rock face also. Great idea

[John Storjohann]

Hi Andrew. This is one of those images that I warm up to...the first time I saw it, I studied it for a while and left...then came back...again..and again. Kerry nailed it with comment about the combination of organic and graphic...I do find myself looking for something to anchor to...but that's more of a personal desire, a dangerous thing to interject into someone's personal vision! As always...nicely done.

[denise ippolito]

Andrew, It's a very nice blur with lots of texture and pattern. It does have an organic look to it.

[Judy Howle]

I like the organic look and it created an interesting texture. Nice blurring too.

[Indranil Sircar]

It does feel like rock face! Beautifully done.

[Bob Miller]

Andy....A nice soft blur....You might emphasize the graphic quality by raising the contrast but then that would destroy the softness

[Andrew McLachlan]

Thanks all for the comments, much appreciated.

Kerry, you are understanding my words correctly. I turned 'ON' the VR function for this blur. The exposure time was around 8 - 10 seconds and I wanted to see what kind of effect I might achieve by handholding for that long of an exposure while the lens tries to compensate for my unsteadiness.