There’s a genre that embraces blur, movement, and mystery: Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). When most people think of photography, they picture capturing crisp, sharp images that freeze time. Far from being a mistake, ICM is a purposeful, free-movement technique that opens the door to expressionistic and abstract photographic art.
This genre shifts photography from being a literal record to a visual interpretation. With ICM, light, shape, and color become brushstrokes, and your camera becomes a creative tool for expression. (Featured above – image credit: Marc Schlatter)
What Is Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)?
Intentional Camera Movement is exactly what it sounds like—deliberately moving your camera during a long exposure to blur elements in your frame. Instead of fighting for sharpness, ICM uses motion to paint with light, form, and color. This method can transform even the most ordinary scenes—like a row of trees or a cityscape—into dynamic, dreamlike compositions.
ICM isn’t just a technique. It’s a way to see the world differently. ICM invites experimentation and interpretation, giving photographers a way to capture emotion, movement, and mood in ways that traditional photography might not allow.
Before we dive into tips on creating images using ICM, we are sharing an artists perspective, Marc Schlatter, on this technique.
Marc Schlatter Shares His Photographic Perspective on Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)
Photography has been a wonderful hobby for several decades, often fueling my passion for exploring the natural world. My eyes continually search landscapes, skies, seascapes, and the enchanting moments of sunrise and sunset from both my travels and local surroundings.
Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to capturing not just representational images but the abstract and surreal qualities of our world.
I was greatly inspired and influenced by the work of Roxanne Bouche Overton. Following her work for a couple of years online culminated in my attending her in person workshop in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to further explore this wonderful “world of blur”.
“Intentional Camera Movement opened a new chapter of experimentation and spontaneity that is still revolutionizing my creative vision. ICM’s offering fresh painterly ways to interpret the world. This allows me to create dreamy, surreal images that evoke emotion and imagination akin to one of my favorite genres in the painting art world, abstract expressionism.
ICM infuses my photography with a joyful energy enabling me to explore alternative perspectives. This includes abstract forms, and imaginary landscapes, and even the creation of surreal worlds that extend beyond conventional boundaries.”
Deliberate camera movements provide so many options and an endless array of results often further enhanced by the use of multiple exposures and layers.
Many times the result can be part of a planned effort but more often there is a lot of trial and “error” in this process. Although one might appropriately question whether there is true “error.” These experiences result in providing on-the-spot feedback/learning and at times resulting into a wonderful surprise. This surprise just may be completely different than what one is expecting, taking me to a different direction.
The world of ICM is so fun and rewarding for me as I discover what it truly means to paint with light!
Why Try ICM?
Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) is more than just a cool effect. It’s an open invitation to create with feeling and freedom. Here’s what it brings to your photography:
- Break free from perfectionism and create from intuition.
- See beyond the literal, inviting mystery and emotional depth.
- Transform ordinary subjects into painterly or surreal images.
- Slow down and become more present, exploring and engaging more mindfully with your environment.
- Add emotion and atmosphere creating interest and feeling.
- Fuel and evolve vision and personal style.
Camera Settings for ICM: From Subtle to Bold
Getting started with ICM requires a mix of control and spontaneity. The key ingredients? Identifying a vibe, a feeling versus a literal image. Then, add a slower shutter speed, patience, practice and keep it fun. Toss the serious mindset away and use this as time to play.
Recommended Camera Settings:
Where to start? It’s a bit of prescription combined with playtime! Below highlights settings to start the process.
- Mode: Manual Mode
- Shutter Speed Ranges:
- Subtle Blur adds more painterly effects: 1/4 sec to 1/10 sec
- Aggressive Blur creates a more abstract and surreal vibe: 0.5 sec to 2+ seconds with bolder, faster gestures. Shake, twist, zoom and see what happens.
- ISO: Low (ISO 100–200)
- Aperture: f/8–f/16 – use the aperture to modify exposure versus ISO.
- Lens: Zoom or prime – any lens works but I find mid-range zooms to offer the most flexibility.
- Tripod: Optional—use handheld for organic movement, tripod for controlled shifts or pans.
Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) Techniques & Ideas:
- Double gestures within one exposure to layer textures
- Vertical sweep for forest scenes
- Horizontal pan for waves or fields
- Circular motion for flowers or city lights
- Zoom burst while exposing for dramatic abstraction
Tips for Success with Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)
To get started with ICM, all you really need is your eye, camera, imagination and self-patience.
- Start with familiar subjects like trees, grasses, or water—they reveal shape and texture beautifully through motion.
- Review and adjust often—ICM is highly experimental; what works for one subject may not work for another.
- Shoot in bursts—capture multiple variations in a series. Slight shifts can lead to dramatically different outcomes.
- Embrace the unpredictability—what feels like a “mistake” may become your favorite frame.
How ICM Can Transform Your Photography Practice
The longer you work with ICM, the more it reshapes how you see the world and your creative potential. Many photographers find:
- A renewed sense of creative joy
- Greater freedom to play without judgment
- A shift toward mood and emotion over realism
- Unique signature styles emerging from motion and light
Final Thoughts: Step Into the Blur
Whether you’re working through a creative block or looking to expand your artistic range, ICM offers a welcome detour into the unknown.
Intentional Camera Movement offers a beautiful contradiction: in motion, we often find clarity. By embracing blur, distortion, and chance, ICM helps us move beyond technical mastery and into the world of photographic art.
If you’ve been craving something new in your practice, give ICM a try. Blur the rules—and see what unfolds.
Why explore different genres? Check out: How Photographing Multiple Genres Makes You a Better Photographer
