ACTION!!!

One of the great benefits of an SLR camera is the ability to manipulate images with the use of the shutter's speed. Our next assignment is going to be an experiment in this, working with stopping, blurring, and showing action in our images. We will be using 3 techniques.

• Freezing action - (fast shutter speeds: >1/125 second)
• Blurring action - (slow shutter speeds <1/30>
• Panning - (slow shutter speeds <1/15>

how to pan:

The basic idea behind panning as a technique is that you pan your camera along in time with the moving subject and end up getting a relatively sharp subject but a blurred background.

This gives the shot a feeling of movement and speed. It’s particularly useful in capturing any fast moving subject whether it be a racing car, running pet, cyclist etc.

Panning seems to work best with moving subjects that are on a relatively straight trajectory which allows you to predict where they’ll be moving to. Objects that are moving side to side are challenging and can result in messy looking shots as the motion blur can be quite erratic.

Select a slightly slower shutter speed than you normally would. Start with 1/30 second and then play around with slower ones. Depending upon the light and the speed of your subject you could end up using anything between 1/60 and 1/8 - although at the slower end you’ll probably end up with camera shake on top of your motion blur.

Position yourself in a place where your view of the subject will not be obstructed by anyone or anything else. Also consider the background of your shot. While it will be blurred if there are distracting shapes or colors it could prove to be distracting. Single coloured or plain backgrounds tend to work best.

As the subject approaches track it smoothly with your camera. For extra support of your camera if you’re using a longer lens or are feeling a little jittery you might like to use a monopod or tripod with a swivelling head.

For best results you’ll probably find that setting yourself up so that you’re parallel to the path of your object (this will help with focussing).

Once you’ve released the shutter (do it as gently as possible to reduce camera shake) continue to pan with the subject, even after you’ve heard the shot is complete. This smooth follow through will ensure the motion blur is smooth from start to finish in your shot.

FREEZING MOTION: To stop action you simply shoot with fast shutter speeds, to do this you will use your largest aperture opening (F2.8 for example).

BLURRING ACTION: To blur action shoot with a slow shutter speed, it often helps to use a tripod to help keep the camera steady (<1/60>