How To Master Creative Panning
How to master the art of panning and create a feeling of speed and movement in your photos.
Typically, a panning shot will have a sharp foreground subject and a blurred background to help separate and define the two. You’ll find this technique most often used by automotive and sports photographers because it enhances the feel of speed and movement in a shot.
One of the most intimidating techniques a new photographer can take on is the art of panning. The word “art” is a carefully chosen one, because there is an art to achieving sharp panning shots consistently. However, once you’ve found your groove and realised that it’s a relatively simple technique, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to tame the beast!
In saying this, you’ll spend plenty of time panning subjects with some pretty ordinary results – and more than likely you’ll lose heart, become frustrated, and may even resort to Photoshop for a bit of the old “faux panning”. Everyone has seen a panning shot before, but it’s not until you try and produce one of these images that you’ll appreciate the skill involved...
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: How to shoot silhouettes • How to master creative panning • Shoot stunning black & white beachscapes • How to take great shots with off-camera flash • Locations – Purnululu NP, WA • Nikon D3100
This story was first published in the Australian Photography February 2011 issue of Australian Photography > Feb 2011.
