Blur to Slow Motion

We often worry about getting the absolute sharpest photograph obtainable. We will buy higher ASA film shoot at ever faster shutter speeds to ensure that the outcome is a sharp photo. This may not always be the best way to convey the image.

Consider this scenario. You are a race fan and the opportunity of a life time has presented itself, you have obtained pit passes for the Indy 500. The photo opportunities are extraordinary. You pick out a spot on the first turn, attach your telephoto lens, set your shutter speed at 1/2000th of a second and as each of your favorite drivers come around you snap a photo of their car.

After having the photos processed you can't wait to show your friends and brag a little that you were in the pits right next to the track during the race. Your friends look at the photos and say, "Yeah right, sure you were track side? These photos weren't taken during the race, look at the tires they weren't even moving. These photos were taken when the cars were parked before the race."

The point here is that you really wouldn't be able to discern from the picture that the car was traveling at 200 m.p.h. However, if you had taken the photograph at a slower shutter speed and panned with the car, the background would have been blurred and the car would have remained relatively sharp. This would convey to the viewer the feeling of fast motion.

Assignment: Use a slow shutterspeed when photographing a moving object to help convey the feeling of motion to the viewer.

Caution: If everything in the photograph is blurred then it will probably look like nothing more than a blurry photograph.