This is my first attempt at creating this effect - hope this is the right forum to post these.

It's a tree next to my house, the main effect is completely achieved in camera. The only editing in LR/PS is to adjust things like exposure, sharpness etc.

Looking forward to honest critique - please be brutal if needed

#1

I prefer #1 myself, as it has a more uniform blur. #2 sort of looks like unintentional camera shake.

The images aren't bad, and I see where you're going with this technique. I believe they might be improved with an even longer exposure time and slower camera movement. This would create a more impressionistic effect, with more "painterly" streaking. As it currently stands, I can see what looks like a sidewalk and maybe a house in the background... too much detail when the image should emphasize tones and movement.

Anyway, I hear folks usually have to take hundreds of these types of pictures to get one or two good ones, so it just has a lot to do with luck and persistence.