Capturing the motion
Have you ever found yourself looking at your photos, or perhaps someone else’s and thought that no matter how nice they are, an entire series of shots can all look the same? In this month’s article, I hope to share some simple tricks and tips to help make each of your photos stand out from the others. First things first, make sure your camera has a manual flash and a timer. Check your camera’s settings or manual if you aren’t sure. A tripod or a flat surface with a view of your subject are “nice things to have” to make these tips even more useful too. It’s possible to hold the camera yourself to take these pictures; however no matter how steady you believe your hands to be, they are more likely to be camera shake.
Having stability is key when taking pictures that capture movement. Being able to capture motion in your photos allows the viewer to get a sense of what it felt like to be there when you released the shutter. Though easier to shoot these pictures at night, it is possible to capture the moment during the day as well. One of the best subjects to try this technique on is flowing water, more specifically water flowing over rocks. A creek or stream flowing over some semi-exposed rocks making a bit of white water (class 5 rapids not necessary) will give you some of the best vantage points, as a river might be too wide. If it’s possible look for a shaded area like a canopy of leaves for some nice filtered light. Now if you followed theses steps and shot the picture, it may turn out just fine, but you wouldn’t get the sense of the speed water flowing over the rocks. Turn off your flash and if you’re able to, slow your shutter speed down to between a 60th of a second to a 20th of a second through your camera’s manual settings. Keep in mind the slower you go, that is, the numbers are getting lower, there is more chance for camera shake. A 30th of a second would be the slowest shutter speed I would use if I am holding the camera myself. Anything slower and I would use a tripod or flat surface. Finally, make sure you are focusing the camera on an exposed part of rock or on either side of the bank, perhaps some vegetation that is hanging over the water. Try shooting the same picture with a variety of shutter speeds, starting at the fastest speed and working your way down to about an 8th of a second, though any slower and you risk washing the photo out with light. The final effect can be quite stunning, especially if you’ve found a great location and have good filtered light.
If you want to progress to something a little more challenging than the water trick, go to your nearest road and sidewalk. You’re going to be shooting car’s rear lights, so make sure you use a tripod and are in a safe location. The next tip works best at night but will also work well at twilight. Turn your flash off. Again if you can adjust the speed of your camera’s shutter speed you’ll want to try various speeds, from a 30th of a second all the way down to about 5 or 10 seconds. If your camera has a bulb setting this is even better; bulb settings will allow you to leave the shutter open for as long as your finger depresses the shutter. Wait for a car to come by and take the picture as the car passes you. As you begin to get to the lower shutter speeds, start using your camera’s timer or remote control if you have one. This will reduce the shake that is inevitable as your shutter speed reduces. If you’re on a road that has curves in it, you’ll be able to capture the rear lights as they swing around the corners. Also, when you get into the lower shutter speeds, try walking though the frame (in front of the camera), at various speeds. Very cool.
I hope you have found this month’s tips helpful. I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or comments on my articles so far or if there is a subject you’d like to read about. Please feel free to email me at
toby@s2photo.ca
