by Editor Michel Romaggi in collaboration with the author Yanny Liu 
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 18th of September 2024. 

'Wheatland waves'

This picture was taken in early summer, on 20 June 2024. That afternoon I went up to Steptoe Butte State Park to watch the sunset. As the sun sank to the horizon, the wheat fields above the hills began to be painted in different colours by the soft light of the sky and sun. In the deepening twilight, each hill seemed to take on its own unique character - some shrouded in deep shadow, others reflecting the brilliant hues of the fading light.

You usually seem to find inspiration in the different places you visit. But what is this landscape that we see on many of them, and in particular the "Wheatland Waves"?
The Palouse is one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the Northwest. It is known for its distinctive rolling hills. It is a picturesque agricultural region and its unique landscape was formed by wind-borne silt, known as Loess, creating the gently rolling terrain that defines the area. The beauty of the Palouse lies in its rolling hills, which change colour with the seasons - from the vibrant greens of spring and early summer to the golden hues of late summer and autumn - making it a popular destination for photographers and nature lovers.

Can you describe the different steps to get this light and these colours (equipment, settings, post-processing...)?
After visualising the area, a white barn caught my eye. Suddenly I had an idea, I wanted to capture the floating lines and vibrant colours of the wheat fields by intentionally moving the camera to express my emotions and feelings. This technique, known as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), seemed perfect for this scene. Using a slightly long exposure to create perspective and a special moving visual effect, I attached an ND6 filter to my lens. The camera was set to ISO 100, 1/6th sec, F16. The photo was taken in RAW format.
I experimented with different camera movement speeds based on my experience and found that moving the camera too fast produced excessive blur. I then slowed down my movement with a few speeds, sweeping the camera gently from left to right. Eventually I achieved the perfect blend of blur and smoothness, capturing the interplay of light and shadow as I saw it with my eyes and projected it with my mind.

Post-processing was carried out in three stages using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
* Adobe Lightroom processing: I opened the two RAW files in Lightroom and made global adjustments such as increasing shadows, adjusting clarity and vibrancy to balance the overall light and colour. The photos were then exported to Photoshop as layers.
* Path Blur: To enhance the artistic sense of the ICM image, I used the Path Blur feature in Photoshop (found in Filter -> Blur Gallery -> Path Blur). I applied three path blurs - one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom - to match the natural waves and visual effect of the wheat fields. By increasing the speed by about 30%, the image became smoother and more elegant, transforming into the image I had in mind, as shown in the image below.

* Merging the layers: Using the Object-selection tool, I selected the white barn from the image without camera moving and created a new layer in photoshop.Since both photos had identical compositions, I made slight adjustments to the position of the white barn to restore the scene. To ensure a seamless blend, the opacity of the barn layer was reduced to 85%. After the two layers merged, the image was refined with proper adjustments with the Camera Raw Filter and Levels, Curves adjustments, then cropped to achieve the desired visual effect.

Tips:

l      Always bring an ND filter with you when shooting landscapes..

l      ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) requires practice with different speeds, directions and paths to achieve the desired effect.

l      Review the images on your camera after each shot to determine the optimal speed and movement for your needs.

l      The Path Blur tool is important for creating a smoother effect, simulating fast movement in this image

About you and photography: In your portfolio we can see different sources of photography (animals, landscapes, travel,...). What is your idea of photography, what do you look for?
I live in Maryland, USA and work as a statistical analyst. In addition to photography, I have a wide range of interests, including literature, history and music. Photography is my biggest passion. Since learning photography in 2017, I have been particularly drawn to landscapes, wildlife, and street photography. Through my camera, I express my deep connection to nature and the beautiful moments in my life. I am currently the President of the CCACC Photography Club in the Washington, DC area.

'Through the Fields'