Photo Creative

Current Challenge: Sense Of Movement

This month I'm looking for images which convey a sense of movement. That could be something moving or a more abstract idea of moving such as in life, making progress. If you choose the latter, the sense of moving forward (or backwards) must be made clear from the image, not just the caption.

We've all seen blurry water cascading over rocks or waves on the shore many times so try not to be cliche'd with your image. If you do choose a 'cliche' image, make sure it's a cracker.

Here are five tips to capture images with a sense of movement, whether you want to freeze the action or create a blur effect:

1. Use a Fast Shutter Speed to Freeze Action. To capture sharp, clear images of fast-moving subjects, set your camera to a fast shutter speed. This technique is ideal for sports photography, wildlife, or any scene where you want to stop the motion and capture a crisp image. You may need to experiment to find a speed which freezes a subject - depending on how fast it is moving.

2. Employ a Slow Shutter Speed for Motion Blur. To create a sense of movement through blur, use a slow shutter speed. This technique works well for photographing flowing water, moving cars, or bustling crowds. To avoid camera shake, use a tripod or other method to ensure your camera does not move during an exposure. You will have to experiment to find the speed which gives you the amount of blur you want.

3. Panning Technique. For a dynamic sense of motion, try panning with your subject. Set a moderate shutter speed and follow your subject as it moves across the frame. This will keep your subject sharp while the background blurs, emphasising the movement. You will have to experiment to find the speed which keeps the subject sharp whilst blurring the background.

4. Leading Lines and Composition. This can create a visual flow and enhance the sense of movement. Position your subject in a way that the composition suggests direction and speed.

5. Experiment with Light and Multiple Exposures. Play with light trails in low-light situations by using a long exposure. This is great for capturing the motion of cars at night or stars moving across the sky. Alternatively, use the multiple exposure setting on your camera to combine several frames of a moving subject into one image, which can create a unique and dynamic sense of motion.

Bonus Tip: Focus on Details. Sometimes capturing the smaller details of a moving subject, like the splash of water droplets or the flutter of a bird’s wings, can effectively convey motion. Use burst mode to take multiple shots in quick succession to increase your chances of capturing the perfect moment.

And don't forget, light is always king. If the qualities of light aren't appropriate to the subject, the image will be mediocre at best. If you're struggling with light and its qualities, week 4 module 10 of my Masterclass In Photography will revolutionise your images.

Have fun. Dates and times below...