Photographing objects and people in motion has myriad uses in advertising and marketing. It adds interest to shots and reflects the world we live in - a world of motion. I also find that motion adds energy to photos and lends a different connotation than one where the subjects are entirely at rest. Let me show you how you can make it work for your business.
Technique
Capturing motion involves various techniques. The most common requires a tripod and manipulating shutter speeds to create the desired effect. The longer you keep the shutter open, the more the object will have moved through space and the more blur you will obtain. The speed of the object has to be taken into account, so there are no rules as to specific settings. If you are shooting a person walking vs. a car speeding by, you will need to adjust your shutter speed to get the right effect. A tripod is required to keep the background sharp - remember that showing movement requires a stationary point of reference.
In the shot above, I wanted to capture the architecture of the space but felt it was a little sterile without people. Blurring the people does three things:
It separates people from architecture
It adds an element of humanity and shows how the space is used
There is no need for models or model releases - with blurred faces the people are unrecognizable
As this train pulled into the station, I opened the lens just enough for a slight blur. While subtle, it adds a sense of interest to the story being told. I find that objects we think of as primarily being in motion, e.g., car, train, jet, bicycle, can often be improved by demonstrating movement with a little blur.
Motion can be used to add interest to an otherwise sedate picture. You often see nighttime street scenes where the photographer has opened the lens enough that you see the headlights and taillights of passing cars making a pattern on the road. In this case, we don’t see the motion per se but evidence of the motion - our brains automatically fill in the blank, and we recognize that cars are passing through the image. Use of car lights can also be used to lead the eye in a desired direction.
Another use of this same technique is to add artistic flair. Think about how plain this picture would be without the lights crossing in front. In fact, you tend to see the lights first and the background second. It adds a surreal quality that makes for a great photo.
To this point, we’ve been demonstrating how we accentuate motion. However the opposite technique is to freeze motion which is a terrific effect. In this case the viewer knows the pizza dough is flying through the air but this photo provides the opportunity to see it like they never could on their own. Freezing motion, like blurring, makes the viewer pause and enjoy the novelty of a new perspective.
Use Motion to Tell Your Story
Shooting objects in motion, whether blurring or freezing them, is a terrific way to add interest to marketing materials. In my work, I often shoot a combination of still and motion shots to give my clients options in their messaging. As a photographer, I never settle for taking pictures; instead I shoot images to build a narrative.
On every project, I offer two essential services at no charge to you:
- A free brainstorming session to identify the right story.
- A free pre-shoot walk-through to stage shots and identify opportunities to get the perfect narrative
At Shupe Studios, our goal is to wow your audience. If you’re in the Boston area or greater New England, I hope you’ll reach out to me this winter or spring to help engage your customers.