“The forest is alive, it’s a living thing. See it and feel it. As the cold sets in, it may feel more dormant, but there is still more going on that may not be so obvious.” – Ed Lehming

This may be a final nod to the season of leaves and color for a few months, but it seemed worth the post.

As those who have known me over the years know, I love the forest and am constantly trying to present it in a way that communicates what I am feeling when I’m in the forest. For me, Intentional Camera Movement or ICM brings some of the feeling to the image.

The movement, something that I have learned and developed over time to be my own style, brings forth an energy that is not present in static images. I think that the slight movement adds confusion to the image that makes you look at it again, trying to figure it out. That second look brings forth elements that you may not have noticed at first; at least that is my theory on why this seems to work.

When I consider this image I made just a week ago, there are layers of color and texture that a still image would not present effectively. There are, of course, the bright yellow and orange leaves of the canopy that you notice at first, but look again and subtle layers of greens become visible, just above ground level. Then, as your vision pulls back, all the fine branches and undergrowth in the foreground show themselves. And then there is the bright blue of the early November sky peeking out behind it all.

I had set out this day with the sole purpose of capturing a few ICM shots to round out the season. I was challenged by a thinning canopy and bright skies, making it more difficult to capture images that pleased me. This is one of about five that I kept after culling all the trials. I think it works, given the conditions.

Nikon D800
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 62 mm
1/4 sec, f/22, ISO 400