Thoughts about Impressions of Light:
Throughout my career, I have been seeking to inspire passion for the natural world and convey my emotional response to the subjects I photograph - that of awe and wonder. In 2005, when I learned a new way for me to convey such an emotional response by the use of camera movement during exposure, I began creating a new body of work entitled Impressions of Light. Inspired by color photographers Ernst Haas and Freeman Patterson, and of course the great Impressionistic painters, this work is simply another way to depict the deeply moving beauty I see in Nature.

When I started work on this portfolio three years ago, I saw many beautiful images in a similar style by many different photographers, but I rarely saw a developed, extensive body of work. As my passion for this style of painting with light evolved, I resolved to “go deep” by making a portfolio that offered viewers a consistent style with a broad range of subjects and locations.

I have been working intensively with Canon high res digital cameras, the EOS1Ds Mark II and EOS1Ds Mark III for this project. These new photographs employ a simple technique of moving the camera during each single exposure. The resulting images are impressionistic and evocative of the emotion I felt when I made the exposure. I am printing these images on heavyweight watercolor paper with pigment inks on Canon’s IPF6100, and I continue to be excited by the results. The images come to life when printed large, to at least 20x30 or larger!

The most important aspect of my approach to creating these images is that they are all single exposures created with camera motion only. Having seen other techniques used, such as multiple exposure methods, I find the single exposure approach works best for the mood I wish to create. The resulting images have an organic

and painterly look. Other approaches often look heavily manipulated or Photoshopped, while my style is to paint with the actual textures, light and color I see in front of my camera. No major post-processing manipulation has been applied beyond basic digital darkroom techniques such as contrast and color saturation control.

I’m simply trying to stretch creatively, not just to be different but also to find new ways to express what I’ve been trying to show all along—the beauty of nature. It may sound trite, but that’s still what motivates my photographic explorations. In order to both survive and grow as an artist, I have found it important to push myself in new directions, in other words, to evolve. Success towards this goal cannot be achieved passively, but it must be sought out. I have tried to adhere to the concept that as an artist, one should always question one’s own preconceived notions!

Impressions of Light - Digital Edition
Photographs by William Neill
Sadhna Press, 2008
Single Page and Double Page Spread Versions for versatile viewing options

$15.00 USD Available as Downloadable PDF.
100 pages, 69 Photographs

*Pre-orders are now being taken for the Hardbound Deluxe Edition.

I am happy to announce the publication of my new ebook, Impressions of Light, in digital form. I have been working on this series since 2005, and it is rewarding to have finally produced a portfolio of my favorite images. The book was designed in Adobe InDesign with file sizes that have been optimized to preserve the high resolution images files. The quality of the images really comes to life on screen. I know that this isn’t the same tactile experience of holding a book in hand, but it’s hard to dismiss the vivid quality one can enjoy on screen.

Impressions of Light - Digital Edition is delivered as two PDF files. One PDF contains single pages, and so is optimized for viewing the individual images, as well as for reading text. The second PDF shows the two-page spreads, allowing you to enjoy the book as it was originally designed. The ebook also offers interaction between each image and the Photo Notes section at the back of the book. Click on an image, and you are taken to the PDF page where the Photo Notes are for that photograph. When viewing the Photographic Notes, simply click on the photograph’s thumbnail, and you are linked back to that image in the PDF.

At the back of my book, I have included a Photographic Notes section especially for photographers with technical info about the equipment I used, including camera, lens and exposure data.

These PDFs don't take any more time to download than an album from iTunes!

To purchase this Digital Edition book, just click on the "Buy Now" PayPal link below for a secure and easy e-shopping transaction, using either a PayPal account (if you have one) or a credit card if you prefer. Upon payment, you will return to a web page with downloading instructions.

Price: $15.00 USD

Special Note: The PDFs have been created for onscreen viewing only. Printing of the book's pages is disabled in these PDFs.

NOTE: If paying without a PayPal account, upon completion of your transaction, you will be directed to a "transaction details" page with a button like the one shown below. Be sure to click this button to return to the download page.