by Kahlil Abdul Hakim

Created on: August 31, 2009

Action photography is a photographing technique and it is all about timing a shot. It is a technique used when capturing moving subjects that can produce amazing shots, though, it requires a lot of practice to perfect it. It is an experimental process that can be very fun yet sometimes can be quite frustrating for first timers.

The very basics of panning a shot is by using a slower than usual shutter speed while continuously focusing on the subject while it is moving, producing a relatively sharp subject with a blurred background. This method gives the shot a feeling of movement and speed. It is achievable by keeping the subject in the same position of the frame along one single plane for the duration of the exposure. An SLR camera is preferred while taking panned shots.

Here are some tips and tricks that I'd like to share in producing a panned shot.

Camera settings. Select the camera mode dial to "Shutter Priority (S)" or "Time Value (Tv)". This will allow you to select your desired shutter speed while the camera calculates the aperture value automatically. Ensure that your Auto Focusing is set to "Continuous Servo Focusing". Start at a faster shutter speed and make your way down. For motor sports, start at around 1/500s and step it down as you get a hang of it. The ideal shot is around 1/250s to as slow as 1/125s, depending on the speed of the subject.

Tracking. Track the subject smoothly with your camera as it approaches. It is best to position yourself parallel to the moving subject, making it easier for the camera to track. Use the support of monopods or tripods for those huge telephoto lenses of yours to keep it steady.

One shot, one kills. It is a 50-50 chance of getting it perfect. It took me many sporting events to get it right. Time your shot well. Learn your camera characteristics.

Follow through. Continue to pan with the subject after releasing the shutter and even after you have heard that the shot is complete. This helped me in perfecting the motion blur smoothness from time to time.

Be well prepared. Early birds get the worm. Pack your gears earlier so that you will not leave anything behind. Being at location early allows you to setup your gear properly without any rush. In addition, you'll be able to scout a variety of photographing spots. Anticipate the movement of the subject by taking a minute or two by learning where, how and at what speed the subject is moving and passing by.

Mix it up. Select different spots photographing the subject. Have a variety of backgrounds. While shooting motorsports, don't just stay at the same position.

Patience is virtue. Panning requires a lot of practice, and I mean, a lot. Practice makes perfect. Don't give up. Take it up as an experimental approach. Take some safety shots. It really doesn't matter if you freeze the subject. This will help motivate us to keep it going. In a way, we'll end up with some useable ones instead of just having a collection of blurry images.

There are no limitations or rules with panning. You may also experiment taking panned shots with your speedlight. Though, it will only work if the subject is close to you.

Keep in mind that the subject panned will not be as crisp and sharp. The main idea is to get the subject relatively yet sharper than the background. Adding some blur to the subject can help provide more impact and motion feeling to the image.

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