If you are at all interested in photographing fast-moving subjects, you probably long to become a master of panning. Although panning photography can be a little tricky to get the hang of, it is not impossible and with a little patience and plenty of practice, you will get there soon. To help you get your head around this useful technique, we have compiled our best tips for great panning photos.
What is panning photography?
First things first: what is panning? Panning is a photography technique where you intentionally move the camera as you press the shutter button to create motion blur. Panning is a camera technique commonly used by sports photographers, or action and wildlife photographers as it lets them beautifully capture movement and add a sense of speed to their photos. The most common panning technique is side-to-side panning, but you can also pan the camera up and down, or diagonally.
These blurred action shots have an undeniable artistic feel to them, but they can be a bit tricky to master. We round up our best tips below to help you master camera panning.
1: Choose your subject carefully
Not every moving object is the ideal subject for a panning photo. Ideally, you need a subject that is moving along a consistently straight path, so you can predict where it is heading and at what speed. Subjects to avoid are those that are moving erratically or intermittently. These subjects will only lead to blurry pictures.
2: Check your shutter speed
You are probably used to choosing a relatively fast shutter speed to avoid camera shake at all costs, but this is not the case when using a panning technique. So what's the best shutter speed for panning photography? As a benchmark, we recommend starting with a shutter speed of 1/30 second, reducing from there to find the best speed for the individual shot. We find most subjects sit within the 1/60 to 1/8 second range, with faster subjects like a racecar or jet often needing a speed of 1/125 second or faster. Although you are experimenting with slower speeds intentionally, it is still important to be mindful of camera shake, as too much blur can spoil a shot.
3: Position yourself away from any obstruction
It is easy to forget about objects that are not within your starting frame but you will need to be mindful of things that can obstruct your view or be a distraction in your background before you start shooting, or they could disturb your final image.
When setting up for your shot, position yourself in line with the path of your subject, carefully selecting an area with a single or plain coloured background. If you don't think ahead at this early stage you could end up with a busy or distracting background, with streaks and colours which take the attention off your subject.
4: Track the subject
Tracking your subject is essential to your success when it comes to action panning. A monopod or tripod can help you keep steady and keep your subject within your sights as you're panning the camera. Focus is obviously extremely important, with AF tracking making things a lot easier for you if it is available on your camera. If not, pre-focusing your camera well in advance of your subject's arrival is a great idea. You should focus on the spot where you will be eventually firing the shutter.
5: Release the shutter smoothly
Gently releasing the shutter of your camera can go a long way towards avoiding camera shake. Camera panning should be smooth and continuous, with you following your subject after you have taken your shot. If you experience some shutter lag with your camera, take this into consideration, panning well after you have fired the shutter.
Bonus tips!
By its very nature, panning photography will rarely result in a subject that is completely sharp and in focus. What you are aiming for is a subject that is sharp in comparison to the background of the image, with a little blur adding to the drama and movement within the shot. Don't delete anything from your card on the spot due to imperfect focus, as you may find these images will stand out and be your most loved when you are viewing them later on.
As with any technique, panning requires lots of practice to master. It is even advisable to continue practising regularly after you are satisfied with your results.
Don't jump right into the deep end. Instead, start by shooting things that move a little slower, such as passing traffic, or people and animals running. Once you are happy with your results with these slower-paced subjects, you are ready to try your hand at capturing the high-adrenaline, fast-paced world of racing and action.
Start capturing panning photos now
The trick to mastering panning photography is practice. Now is a great time to start learning this new photography technique. Shop the best photography gear now at Ted's Cameras, or keep browsing Ted's photography blog for more photography tips.
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