Street photography tip: Try a panning shot

Friday 20 October 2023, 21:42 by Michiel Heijmans | 2,908 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

If you photograph a stationary person in front of a moving train, you will see the train as a sort of blur behind your subject, if you use a slower shutter speed.

You can also move your camera with the moving subject, making the stationary background blurred. This is called 'panning'.

Nijmegen - f/13, 1/15s, 160 ISO @ 35mm
The movement is created by setting your camera to shutter priority (S or Tv mode) and reducing your shutter speed to, for example, 1/15 of a second.

Then, and you may need to practise this for a while, try to move your camera at the same speed as your subject is moving.

If a cyclist passes from left to right, move your camera from left to right as well. Take your photo at the moment you had in mind.

Because you are now making the stationary surroundings in front of your lens 'move' while following your subject, your moving subject suddenly appears stationary. Try it with cyclists, cars or those modern scooters. A really fun effect!

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About the author

Michiel is professioneel straatfotograaf en geeft workshops en lezingen over straatfotograﬁe. Hij schrijft columns voor Focus Magazine en is erg actief op Instagram. Daar vind je dagelijks inspiratie en tips voor je eigen straatfotograﬁe!

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2 comments

Doede Douma wrote on Tuesday 24 October 2023 at 15:12 | reply
Erg leuk om te doen. Zelf probeer ik het met vliegende vogels; de achtergrond is dan meestal afwezig. Valt trouwens nog niet mee.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.

Michiel Heijmans wrote on Tuesday 24 October 2023 at 16:57 | reply
Hey Doede, birds are a rewarding subject, but indeed: they almost never fly in a straight line for long when taking off or flying away!
Translated from Dutch.

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