At the end of Informing Contexts I took some colour seascape images. I quite liked them, although my tutor felt that the technique of intentional camera movement had been done before. These are some examples of those images that are currently being exhibited on the Isle of Skye at Gallery An Talla Dearg:

Seascape 4 – Alison Price, April 2019

Seascape 6 – Alison Price, April 2019

Seascape 19 – Alison Price, April 2019

Seascape 21 – Alison Price, April 2019
I received some very strong feedback from peers and fellow photographers at the time so thought, in the spirit of being experimental, I should try taking some more. While I started with quite subtle movements and a shutter speed of 1/8 of a second I found that I was not really capturing the essence of Skye that I am after. I tried different movements – horizontal, diagonal and up and down. Then I experimented with quicker movements and ones reflecting the topology of the scene. These are some examples that I have not yet processed:

Seascape 50 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 51 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 52 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 53 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 54 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 55 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascapes 56 – Alison Price, June 2019

Seascape 57 – Alison Price, June 2019
I think these more recent examples are more successful and do convey some of the turbulence, dramatic light and shade and spirit of Skye.
As I was reviewing these images I was reminded of the words of a Neil Diamond song Be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKZQTXY3ZnA:
“Lost
On a painted sky
Where the clouds are hung
For the poet’s eye
You may find him
If you may find him
There
On a distant shore
By the wings of dreams
Though an open door
You may know him
If you may . . .”
For me, these words captured what I am trying to achieve. I now plan to go out with my camera again before leaving Skye, listening to Neil Diamond, to see if I can perfect my technique and my intentions.
As I have said many times before, I am not trying to produce a literal representation, I am after the essence – literal representations of the Island are everywhere – produced in a postcard vernacular. These literal images and this aesthetic dominate and inhibit the revelation of the essence of this beautiful place through photography. This is why I am trying something different.
This is work in progress so please do let me know which images you particularly like or dislike. Feedback is always welcome.
References
Diamond, N. 1973. Be. From the album Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Looking at them I get a sense of Skye I have never seen in a literal image. By reducing the literal you and your camera have revealed the turbulence and energy of the island – seeing them I get a very clear sense of what the island is really like – quite wonderful and a jump forward from your earlier images using this technique.
Thank you. Unfortunately my tutor is not so convinced!
Especially like no. 51 it has something of Turner about it.
Thanks for your comment. I agree entirely – some of them have a Turner-esque quality about them!