Capturing Motion OR Freezing Action
To create motion blur:
-slow shutter so its necessary to use a tripod if you want some objects to be sharp. Your photo might be overexposed if you are in a well lit situation. FLICKR EXAMPLES-motion blur |
To create freezing action:
-fast shutter, which means if you are not in a well lit situation, you may have to increase ISO. FLICKR EXAMPLES-freezing action |
Photographers have two primary options when capturing motion. They may wish to "freeze" the action exactly at a specific moment, or they may choose to purposely "blur" the motion to emphasize the movement or speed of their subject.
Both options require the photographer to manipulate the shutter speed to achieve the desired effect. |
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How shutter speed affects motion
In short, the faster your shutter speed, the sharper your image will be. The slower your shutter speed, the more motion blur you will get.
An important reminder:
Keep in mind that shutter speed not only affects motion, but exposure as well. The faster your shutter speed, the less light can enter your camera. The slower your shutter speed, the more light will enter your camera. This is important to consider, especially if you plan to use a very fast shutter speed when there is not much light, or a very slow shutter speed in bright daylight.
Helpful Shutter Speed Cheat Sheet
Your Assignments:
CREATE AN ALBUM IN FLICKR THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF EACH OF THE SHOTS BELOW:
- freezing action shot (Flickr Examples)
- motion blur (tripod) (Flickr Examples)
- panning (Flickr Examples)
1. Freeze Action Shot
To freeze action and keep your moving subject(s) sharp you will need a fast shutter speed. The faster your subject is moving, the faster your shutter speed will need to be.
1/250th of a second is usually fast enough to freeze motion.
1/500th of a second is fast enough to freeze a moving athlete.
1/1000 of a second may be needed for even faster subjects, such as fast moving vehicles.
To freeze action and keep your moving subject(s) sharp you will need a fast shutter speed. The faster your subject is moving, the faster your shutter speed will need to be.
1/250th of a second is usually fast enough to freeze motion.
1/500th of a second is fast enough to freeze a moving athlete.
1/1000 of a second may be needed for even faster subjects, such as fast moving vehicles.
Freezing Action:
Group work: groups of 2-3.
Focus on using fast shutter speeds to create FREEZE ACTION SHOTS. With your group, take turns being the "model." Take action shots of the model running (across the frame, not towards you or away from you) and jumping. Then get creative and take a freeze action shot of a moving OBJECT (water, ball, pinwheel, spinning quarter, etc.) Each photo should be perfectly SHARP! NO MOTION BLUR!
Be creative!!! Think about the compositional guidelines!
Some ideas to help you:
Group work: groups of 2-3.
Focus on using fast shutter speeds to create FREEZE ACTION SHOTS. With your group, take turns being the "model." Take action shots of the model running (across the frame, not towards you or away from you) and jumping. Then get creative and take a freeze action shot of a moving OBJECT (water, ball, pinwheel, spinning quarter, etc.) Each photo should be perfectly SHARP! NO MOTION BLUR!
Be creative!!! Think about the compositional guidelines!
Some ideas to help you:
A person Running |
A moving object |
A person Jumping |
2. Motion Blur Shot
In a motion blur image, the moving subject should appear blurry, while the background remains sharp.
A slower shutter speed allows the subject to move while the camera is still recording the image, causing a blurred effect. The slower your subject is moving, the slower your shutter speed will need to be to produce a blur.
Any time you are using a shutter speed of 1/60th of second or slower, a TRIPOD IS REQUIRED. This is because during that long of an exposure, camera shake will occur from hand-holding your camera. This will produce an image that is blurry all over (not what we want!) instead of just the moving subject.
In a motion blur image, the moving subject should appear blurry, while the background remains sharp.
A slower shutter speed allows the subject to move while the camera is still recording the image, causing a blurred effect. The slower your subject is moving, the slower your shutter speed will need to be to produce a blur.
Any time you are using a shutter speed of 1/60th of second or slower, a TRIPOD IS REQUIRED. This is because during that long of an exposure, camera shake will occur from hand-holding your camera. This will produce an image that is blurry all over (not what we want!) instead of just the moving subject.
3. Panning
Panning is another approach to capturing motion blur. Here, instead of having the moving subject blurry and the background sharp, the opposite is true- the background is blurred and the moving subject is clear.
This is achieved by using a slow shutter speed and following the moving subject with your camera, just as you would pan a video camera if you were filming someone running past you. Because your camera stays aligned with the moving subject, it should stay sharp.
Panning is another approach to capturing motion blur. Here, instead of having the moving subject blurry and the background sharp, the opposite is true- the background is blurred and the moving subject is clear.
This is achieved by using a slow shutter speed and following the moving subject with your camera, just as you would pan a video camera if you were filming someone running past you. Because your camera stays aligned with the moving subject, it should stay sharp.