Panning

The basic idea is that you move (pan) your camera along with the moving subject so that you end up creating a relatively sharp subject with a blurred background.

It is not the easiest technique to master but with a bit of practice and the right conditions you should get pleasing results.

An African safari will provide many appropriate animals to use as subjects. There are animals such as the giraffe, zebra, leopard and cheetah..

Also keep a lookout for opportunities to include dust or water being kicked up by the running animals as this will add impact to the photograph.

You subject should be moving in a straight path parallel to you - if the subject is moving toward or away from you then the photograph will not be as effective.

Try and use your tripod if shooting from a camp or your bean-bag and Panning Plate if shooting from a hide or car...

Hand-holding can also work but you must ensure you do not move up or down but just left to right, moving with the subject.

Twelve Tips on How to Shoot Motion Blurs

2. Set your camera's focus mode to AF-C for Nikon (AI Servo for Canon) and the release mode CH (Continuous-High) or CL (Continuous Low)

3. If your lens has VR or IS set the switch to 'normal' for Nikon (and mode 2 for Canon) as you want the horizontal motion to blur but not the vertical motion. Nikon's 'active' VR switch will stabilize both horizontal and vertical movement.

4. Set your ISO on the lowest - say ISO 100

5. Set a small aperture, say f/16 or f18, depending on the brightness of the day

6. Set a slow shutter-speed of about 1/30th to 1/15th second. Dull overcast days are best for pans but if the day is too bright and you cannot get slow shutter speeds then add a polarizer or neutral density filter to reduce the light and give you a slower shutter speed. If your subject is moving slow you would use a slower shutter speed to accentuate the feeling of speed. If the subject is sprinting (like a cheetah) you may need to use a faster shutter speed otherwise you could have a totally blurred photo.

8. As the subject approaches track it smoothly with your camera. For extra support of your camera if you’re using a longer lens or are feeling a little jittery you might like to use a monopod or tripod with a gimbal head.

9. Focus on your subject's body or head and use the centre focus point and just keep tracking the subject while shooting

10. Pan (rotate your torso or move your arms) in the same direction of the subject's trajectory

11. Shoot a continuous sequence of images to ensure you get at least one that is pleasing. Keep in mind the your subject's head may be bobbing up and down so you will need to try and get it at the peak of the action when the bobbing has stopped - shooting in continuous-high will help you get this.

12. Once you’ve gently released the shutter continue to pan with your subject, even after you’ve heard the final frame has been taken. This smooth follow through will ensure the motion blur is smooth from start to finish in your photograph. No different to golfers, tennis players and snooker players who 'follow-through'!

A variation on the Pan Technique

Practice your Pan Technique

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