The Best of Blur 2025 invited photographers to experiment with creativity through Intentional Camera Movement (ICM). This is a photography technique that allows you to transform the ordinary into impressionistic, motion-filled masterpieces. With no limits on subject, genre, or style, the only rule was to make movement the star of the show. From gentle pans to wild twists, the entries truly reflected the intricacies of ICM.
For those who missed the brief, here’s the original competition page:
After much deliberation (and awe!), we’re excited to announce this year’s winners! As with previous competitions, two prizes were available:
- Best Single Image: R1,000 cash prize
- Best Series: A personal 3-hour training session with DPC’s Danie Bester, tailored to the winner’s needs.
We were thrilled to see new faces emerging alongside seasoned competitors, pushing the boundaries of intentional blur and light painting. The entries were so amazing that we decided to have three winners instead of two!
Winning Picture:
Kim Stevens – “Lady of the Camellias”
Big hoohah for Kim Stevens – winner of the Single Photo Award and walking away with the R1000 cash prize! Kim has a knack for turning the ordinary into pure visual poetry, and Lady of the Camellias is no exception. She used the Pep Ventosa Technique to take 9 images of differing shutter speeds while walking around the tree and blending them in camera. The soft, layered textures and painterly blur transform the camellia tree into something dreamlike – almost as if it’s drifting between memory and reality. The rich pinks scattered beneath the tree feel like nature’s own confetti, perfectly matching the romantic, nostalgic feel of the title. A truly impressionistic gem!
Best Series:
We’re excited to share the winners of the Series category. For 2025, we have two photographers sharing the honours – congratulations to Frances Fujii and Melissa Barker! Each winner will receive a 3-hour personal training or curating session with Danie Bester, on a topic of their choice. Their winning series, are featured below (we also have a few honourable mentions!)
Click the photos to enlarge
Frances Fujii – “Take a Leap”
Frances Fujii’s series stands out for its bold and unconventional approach to wildlife photography. The black-and-white, high-contrast style, combined with intentional motion blur, gives the images the appearance of charcoal drawings. The effect is reminiscent of the tonal style of artists like Georges Seurat and Käthe Kollwitz. This minimalistic treatment is not often seen in wildlife photography, making the work both distinctive and memorable.
Click the photos to enlarge
Melissa Barker – “Dance Series”
This captivating dance series by Melissa Barker is truly out of the ordinary. The images are both dynamic and graceful, using creative strobe techniques to freeze key moments while allowing motion to flow through the frame. The flashes lock in the dancer’s form mid-movement, while the trailing blur captures the elegance and energy of each gesture. The combination of controlled lighting and fluid motion makes this series both technically impressive and visually mesmerising.
Honourable Mentions
While only a few could walk away with prizes, we had a number of entries that gave the judges pause — in the best way possible! These are the shots that had us debating, re‑looking, and appreciating their creativity, skill, and impact. They might not have taken the win this time, but each one deserves a spotlight of its own.
Other Entries!
If you want to see more, click the link below to view all submissions and let us know which ones moved you the most!
You can also watch the following video where Danie gives tips and tricks on how to apply intentional camera movement:
Congatulations to the winners, especially Kim on your beautiful image Some stunning work.
Wow! These are absolutely amazing. But a huge congratulations to Kim on your photo. I can’t stop looking at it! Fantastic work, everyone.