Paco Elvira (English): EXPRESIONS OF MOTION IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Tuesday 4 May 2010

EXPRESIONS OF MOTION IN PHOTOGRAPHY

MONICA SELES. 1/1000 F.4 100 ASA

There are basically three ways to represent motion in photography: Freezing the motion, panning and motion blurr. We must take into account several factors: the shutter speed, the camera movement and direction of the moving subject towards the camera.

1) FREEZING THE MOTION: The subject or object is perfectly sharp and its movement frozen. The shutter speed must be high, the greater the faster the subject moves. The direction of the subject influences the shutter speed we need.If it moves parallel to the camera requires a higher speed than if it moves perpendicular to it, but considering this premise, its trajectory with respect to the camera is irrelevant, unlike in the panning, and it doesn’t matter if the camera is moving or is steady. The closer the subject, the higher the shutter speed needed to freeze it. This same principle applies to the focal length of lenses used. The longer the lens’ focal distance, that gets us closer to the subject, the higher speed needed to freeze the motion subject and viceversa.

1/500 F:4 400 ASA

1/1.000 F:2,8 100 ASA

2) PANNING: The subject in motion is acceptably sharp and the background blurred. The shutter speed needed is lower than in the case of the, motion freezing, but also depends on the motion speed of the subject. To achieve this effect is essential that the subject moves parallel related to the camera, not away from or approaching it. To achieve this effect you must move the camera following the subject and shoot when it is in front you.

1/8 F:2,8 200 ASA

LEICA 1/15 F:8 100 ASA

3) MOTION BLUR: (ghost image): The subject in motion is blurred and the background sharp. The shutter speed is lower than in the freezing motion case and also than in the panning case, but also depends on the speed of movement of the subject. The trajectory of the subject is irrelevant, unlike the case of the panning, but we must remember that we need a lower shutter speed to achieve the desired effect if the subject or object moves perpendicular to the camera, than if is moving parallel to the camera. Unlike in the freezing motion and panning techniques is essential that the camera remains stationary; the use of a tripod is usually recommended.