| The fans are screaming; the Bulls have the ball, | | | | 1/125th of a second. In this case you definitely |
| and you are following number 23 as he | | | | want to use a tripod and shoot at even slower |
| approaches the basket. He jumps, he shoots ... | | | | speeds. The reason you use a tripod is so that |
| you score! You did get that picture just as the ball | | | | the rest of the image (other than moving parts) |
| left his fingertips, didn't you? If you got that | | | | will photograph sharp and crisp. |
| sports illustrated cover shot, the ball would be | | | | So far we have only mentioned two basic |
| frozen just past the tip of his fingers. | | | | choices: A) the subject is frozen in mid air |
| This is the type of fast pace action shot that | | | | (commonly referred to as Stop Action) or B) the |
| most photographers think about when they are | | | | subject deliberately shows some blur to indicate |
| trying to show motion in their photos; but it is not | | | | movement. There is a third choice which is not so |
| the only way to show motion. Think about it for a | | | | basic; this choice is called panning. Panning involves |
| moment. If you were watching a wind mill; on a | | | | using a slower shutter speed, but moving with (or |
| windy day, how would those blades look? If they | | | | panning with) the subject as it goes by. This |
| were frozen in mid air like the basketball, you | | | | makes the subject clear but the background |
| wouldn't be able to tell if there was actually any | | | | blurry. It is very effective in showing motion, but |
| wind that day or not. | | | | it does take a lot of practice. Panning can be done |
| If you were shooting a NASCAR race and got a | | | | with or without a tripod. But the cleanest pan |
| single car high up on the edge of a curve, do you | | | | shots I have ever seen all did it with the tripod. |
| really want it 100% stop motion, razor sharp? I | | | | You can also combine effects. For example: I |
| would say no. Why? Because if you took the | | | | once shot a dance where there were several |
| picture the way it was just described, it could just | | | | photographers using flash. I was trying a timed |
| be parked on the track for all anyone knows. | | | | exposure of a young lady coming down a circular |
| Obviously stopping motion is not the only way to | | | | stair case. Right at the end of my exposure a |
| show motion. If you want to freeze things in mid | | | | flash went off. The end result was really quite |
| air, think fast shutter speed or electronic flash. If | | | | amazing. The ghost image of the girl walking |
| you want some blur in the image think slower | | | | slowly down the stairs became crystal clear when |
| shutter speed and a tripod. | | | | she paused at the bottom step and the flash |
| When we say slow; we mean slow compared to | | | | went off. |
| the speed of the subject. For example; if we are | | | | There is no one way that is right or wrong to |
| talking about a NASCAR car that goes 200 miles | | | | capture motion. Sometimes we see motion using |
| per hour, even 1/250th of a second might be | | | | stop action; sometimes we do it with a deliberate |
| slow enough to catch some blur. To be on the | | | | blur. Blur can be fractions of a second, or they |
| safe side, I would bracket your exposures to | | | | can be several minutes long. If you have ever |
| include: 1/500th, 1/250th, 1/125th, 1/60th, and 1 | | | | seen waterfall shots with the white dreamy |
| 30th of a second. The first two or three shots | | | | flowing water, that was exposed for several |
| you should be able to hand hold without much | | | | minutes with a tripod. The choice of how you |
| problem; but once speeds start getting at 1/60th | | | | shoot movement determines how you view |
| of a second or slower, it is always safer to use a | | | | movement. Next time you automatically think |
| tripod. | | | | "stop action" try a few blur shots as well; you |
| The wind mill may only be blowing at 25mph or | | | | might be surprised at the results. |
| slower; so you might still freeze the image at only | | | | |