Category Archives: Panning and dragging the shutter

MOTIONOGRAPHY – Creating motion in still photographs by Shawn Miller

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As a photographer, there will be a time when you feel all your photographs look similar and you might lose interest for a while. Creating motion in still photographs will definitely give you a new challenge and purpose. The goal is to try to show some type of motion in a still photograph. The photographs emphasize the energy, power and or speed of the subject moving. Dramatic motion images will provide depth and variety to your portfolio.

Try panning or dragging the shutter 

  • Move the camera in sync with the moving subject while the shutter stays open. Slow shutter speed will be necessary to achieve this.
  • Once you understand this technique try adding flash at the end of the exposure to freeze the motion of the subject.
  • Get creative and add a spin the camera

Motion + Photography = Motionography

Panning can be frustrating at times. Keep practicing and eventually, you will get a few selected photographs. Below are some of my favorite outdoor panning photographs.

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Koi Art

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Wings spread

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Ryukyu Tigers

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Birds in flight

The motion of flight © Shawn Miller

Egret on the move

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Swoosh

The landing! Black-faced spoonbill -

The landing! Black-faced spoonbill –

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Golden light

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Yanbaru forest

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Splash -Maeda flats

If certain colors are distracting in your photographs try converting them to black & white. This can enhance the mood and sometimes make the photograph more dramatic.

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Okinawa photographers

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Ie Island Lilly festival

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Surfs up

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The strider

Most importantly have fun and get your friends and family involved in your projects!

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Round and around

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The Race @ Round1

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Basketball

Araha beach race

Araha beach race

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Roller derby event

beach excavation

Beach excavation

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Slow down

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature