One of the most repeated tips on this blog pertains to the use of a tripod to avoid camera shake and the ugly blur that comes with it. However, there are cases when blurring actually adds to the overall look of a photo.
Long shutter speeds allow for intentional blurring, which in most cases, help to enhance an image. For example, those cool shots of heavy traffic with blurred headlights or nature photos featuring waterfalls that make the flow of H20 appear streaky, like wisps of white cotton candy. When executed properly, this type of camera blur can turn ordinary pictures into masterpieces that look as though they were hand painted.
You can use your camera to create this artistic effect by first mounting it on to a tripod. The tripod will keep your camera steady so that everything else in the frame, save for your chosen subject, remains clear. Next, set the shutter speed on your camera to 1/15 of a second and start firing away. After a few shots, review your snapped images and determine whether or not you should slow down the shutter even more. Ideally, anything in the frame that is moving will be blurred, while the fixed objects stay crisp. Try the technique the next time you are visiting a major city. A street scene will look infinitely more interesting if you blur the lights of passing cars, so they appear like colorful streaks against a night sky.
You can also achieve artistic blurring by following the movement of your photo subject with your camera. If done correctly, you will be left with a photo that features a sharp subject and a blurred background. Basically, the technique achieves the opposite of the traffic shot mentioned above. Professional sports photographers use this panning technique to capture athletes in motion. In order to apply this technique to your photo shoots, ditch the tripod, reduce your shutter speed and follow your subjects with your camera, as they are in motion.
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