When you are out taking photographs, one thing you will notice is that more often than not, subjects are not still. While buildings and statues are not going anywhere, it is rare that you find the buildings without other people scurrying about. Other subjects such as people, wildlife, roller coasters, and much more are in motion. Taking shots of motion can result in some very great photos and there are a few good ideas to keep in mind when trying to use motion in photographs.
The idea of static motion is one way of taking a motion picture. Take jumping for instance. By using a very fast shutter speed you can freeze the frame and in a sense, the photograph shows the motion by freezing it. It may seem paradoxical, but the only way the person is that far in the air is if they jumped. The underlying motion is implied. The same goes for getting a picture of a whale or dolphin leaping out of the water.
Another method is blurring the motion. By using a slow shutter speed the motion is quite literally captured on the film in the form of the blurred lines. You can see the motion of the jump from the ground to the air. Other classic motion shots with long exposures are running water and Ferris wheels. The blurring effect in a sense shows the viewer the motion.
Lastly, panning is an excellent way to capture motion and provide a sense of speed. By following the subject of the photo with the camera, the background is blurred but the subject remains sharp and clear. It gives the photo that sense of speed that is often lacking when you take a very fast photo to freeze the action. When taking panning shots it is also important to find a good background. A dull, monochromatic background will show less speed because the blur will only be one color and the view may not be able to pick up on it as well.
