Seeing Differently: Three Voices Exploring Abstraction

Santa Fe Workshops continues its celebration of intentional camera movement (ICM)—a compelling photographic technique that favors emotion, experimentation, and intuition over precision. In its most basic form, ICM breaks free from traditional representation and opens up new realms of artistic possibility, and in the hands of a master of the technique, ICM opens magical visual experiences. 

In this second installment of our online abstract symposium series, we focus on seeing differently with three contemporary approaches to ICM photography. Our featured presenters, Andy Gray, Barbara Kreutter, and Nick Fancher, each use these techniques in distinct and compelling ways, moving beyond documentation to create images that interpret, evoke, and reimagine the world around them.

Stephanie Johnson, founder and publisher of ICM Photography Magazine, returns as moderator and guide for this dynamic day of creative exploration. Andy, Barbara, and Nick are each pioneering imagemakers whose unique approaches push the boundaries of photographic expression. Whether you’re newly curious or already immersed in this genre, this live online event is designed to expand your thinking and invigorate your creative process.

We begin the symposium with opening remarks and insights from Stephanie, followed by individual presentations from Andy, Barbara, and Nick.

Andy Gray, a photographer and artist based in Northumberland, England, opens the day with an exploration of instinct and improvisation in ICM. With a background in architectural draughting and a lifelong creative practice, Andy combines technical knowledge with emotional resonance, transforming landscapes into expressive, abstract interpretations. His presentation covers both in-camera techniques and post-processing methods, emphasizing how curiosity, play, and unconventional tools like blend modes and plug-ins can lead to evocative and unexpected results.

From Alberta, Canada, Barbara Kreutter brings her background in textile design to her photographic practice, creating layered images that feel woven rather than captured. She walks us through her full creative arc from gathering source material in nature to refining it in the digital darkroom. By blending and layering photographs with texture and nuance, Barbara constructs visual abstractions that blur the line between photography and other visual art forms. Her talk highlights the power of transformation and how structure and softness can coexist within a single frame.

Nick Fancher, a professional photographer and educator based in Columbus, Ohio, presents on motion, light, and letting go of control. Known for his bold in-camera effects and fearless use of color, Nick discusses how motion, whether from the camera, the subject, or light itself, can become the driving force in image-making. With a focus on process over prediction, he shares creative prompts, techniques, and real-world examples that challenge the idea of what a photograph should be, encouraging photographers to lean into risk and unpredictability.

After these presentations, Stephanie leads a roundtable conversation with all three speakers, exploring ideas around abstraction, experimentation, and the ever-evolving possibilities of ICM. A live audience Q&A concludes the event, offering time to connect with these innovative artists and ask your own questions.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore abstract photography or are looking to deepen your existing practice, this symposium is an invitation to see differently, think creatively, and push past familiar boundaries.

Even if you can’t make the live event, a recording of it will be available for all those registered.