Endlessly Mesmerizing Wave Cinemagraphs Bring the Powerful Ocean to Life

Australian photographer Ray Collins is known for his breathtaking portraits of the ocean. In a single instance, he captures the astounding power of waves just moments before their massive curls descend from their peak and crash into the water. They’re so expressive that we can imagine their movement, but we can’t get the full scope of their power. Dutch cinematographer Armand Dijcks has recently collaborated with Collins on a short film called The Infinite Now, which is composed of several cinemagraphs that bring Collin's wave photography to life.

So, what is a cinemagraph? Made popular in early 2011, it’s a still photograph-turned-video that has subtle repeating movements embedded within it. To make The Infinite Now, Dijcks started by manipulating the waves in the film editing program Adobe After Effects. Then, he used a cinemagraph app to complete the continuously-looping animation. “‘It turned out that certain images lend themselves to this technique better than others,” Dijcks told designboom. “There’s always a bit of trial and error involved. It helps to visualize in my head how the wave would move in real life, as I only have a still image to work with, and no video reference.”

Collin’s stunning visuals and Dijcks’ animations inspired other creative people to contribute to The Infinite Now. “These cinemagraphs inspired André Heuvelman from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra to get together with pianist Jeroen van Vliet,” Dijcks wrote, “to record a very moving custom soundtrack, which I combined with a selection of the cinemagraphs.” The mesmerizing result feels so real that you can almost smell the salt water and feel the breeze.

Ray Collins produces wave photography that brilliantly captures the water's stunning forms.

To showcase their immense power, cinematographer Armand Dijcks has set them in motion with cinemagraphs.

 

 

 

 

Here are all the wave cinemagraphs in The Infinite Now:

Ray Collins: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Armand Dijcks: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Fixel

h/t: [designboom]

All cinemagraphs via Ray Collins/Armand Dijcks.

Related Articles:

Stunning Photos of Surging Ocean Waves Frozen in Time

Colorblind Coal Miner Captures Breathtaking Seascapes in Australia

Interview: Warren Keelan Captures Stunning Ocean Waves That Look Like Brushstrokes of Paint

Photographer Spends Hours in Open Waters to Capture Exquisite Moments of Glass-Like Waves

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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