impressionism techniques

A reader asked me a while back, "How can I get impressionist results from my camera?" I listed a few techniques (hopefully helpful ones). I'd like to add one to that list. For the purposes of this discussion, let's classify these techniques into two categories: in-camera, and out-of-camera. In-camera techniques are those you can use in the field with only your camera, such as changing the focus, using a slow shutter speed to blur the image, etc. Out-of-camera techniques are post-production alterations to the image done with software.

What I've discovered lately is that in-camera techniques used to achieve impressionist results are much more effective. First, you can see the results in the field. Second, they look more natural and less "gimicky." Out-of-camera effects are also usually easier to spot, making them feel very artificial.

In the end, though, being analog, natural, and honest, in-camera techniques and the results they reproduce feel better and look better. You even feel better about producing them. And using them is photography, while out-of-camera techniques feel more like manipulation, of both the photograph and the person viewing it. And, as a friend of mine puts it, overly manipulated photographs leave you cold.

I'll share an in-camera technique I developed recently and like a great deal. Here is a photograph I took this morning down at the river using this technique.

Nikon D200 (IR), Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 at 200mm, 1/320 sec, f/8, ISO200
Adjustments: size, curves, b&w conversion
Geotag: N 39° 3' 42", W 77° 22' 23"

This photograph displays some natural, sharp detail, but combines it with an ethereal feel, resulting in a sense of both reality and the surreal. Granted, part of this is due to the fact that it is an infrared photograph, but that's only a small contribution. You'll need a camera that can perform multiple exposures, like the Nikon D90 or D200.

The basic idea is to take multiple exposures of the same thing, but at different focus levels. Follow these steps:

1. Set your camera to manual focus.
2. Defocus your scene or subject until it's pretty blurry, and there are no recognizable details.
3. Set the camera to multiple exposure mode (this photo was done with 4 exposures).
4. Shoot your first exposure.
5. Shoot the remaining exposures, moving the focus each time a bit more towards being in focus, making sure the last one is in sharp focus.

Once your camera combines all the images, you should get a result similar to the one above.

This technique was used here in a nature photo, but that's because I happened to be at the river at the time. I plan to try this with portraits, still life, and other subject matter. Who knows what will benefit from this interesting surreal look?

One more for your impressionism toolbox. Experiment with it and see what changes to the technique work well. If you achieve any interesting results with this, let me know. I'd love to see them.