We’re all faced with a choice when it comes to photographing fast-moving subjects, whether they’re birds in flight, sports subjects, shots of rambunctious kids or pets, or vehicles passing quickly through the frame. One option is to freeze the peak moment of action as it occurs, while the other is to intentionally blur the subject to create a unique, visual representation of speed.
This super quick tutorial is presented by the folks at Great Big Photography World, a great source of imaging information on a wide range of subjects of interest to beginners and experienced photographers alike. The popular YouTube channel also provides access to a supportive network of experts who share your passion for photography.
Today’s unnamed instructor breaks down various techniques for capturing the look you’re after, and it’s all about selecting an appropriate shutter speed and dialing in the best focus mode for the specific task at hand. As he says, “this photography tutorial will give you practical easy-to-follow tips to level-up your skills and instantly capture better photos.”
This eye-opening lesson begins with an overview of how shutter speed impacts motion blur and sharpness. When your goal is freezing a subject, the faster it moves the higher your shutter speed should be. And that means paying attention to how aperture and ISO settings impact exposure at the speed you select.
When sense of movement is the name of the game, however, it’s necessary to reverse the approach you take, and you’ll learn a few easy techniques for using motion-blur creatively for stunning effects.
Our instructor also explains when autofocus works best, and why focusing manually may be preferable in certain situations. The lesson also includes a discussion of focus mode options; namely AF Single (AF-S), and AF Continuous (AF-C). The decision of whether or not to use a tripod or shoot handheld also factors into the equation.
As with most tasks in photography there’s no one “correct” solution to these challenges, which is why the instructor recommends that after understanding the basics you should “experiment with different shutter speeds to see how motion blur and sharpness changes in your shots.” Bottom line: This four-minute explainer is well worth your time.
There’s plenty more to learn on the Great Big Photography World YouTube channel, so browse through their selection of instructional videos.
Then check put the related tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how to choose the best camera settings for capturing awe-inspiring photographs of flying and perched birds when shooting in Manual mode.
Spring is a favorite season among everyone who shoots outdoors, and many of the best opportunities can be pursued close to home. The trick is knowing what subjects to shoot and how to achieve optimum results in the camera, and that’s the topic of the how-to video below from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel.
Instructor Christian Mohrle is a highly acclaimed German landscape photographer whose straightforward post-processing tutorials are among the most popular we share. In this episode he explores this beautiful season with three captivating photo ideas and the proper settings to use, along with in-camera shooting techniques for photographers of all skill levels.
His practical tips also involve lens choice, the use of interesting camera angles and effective composition to help you nail each shot with confidence. His first topic may the most obvious; namely spring flowers, buds, and blossoms. We’ve all tried this before at one time or another, but Mohrle’s advice can make the difference between good images and great ones.
His first suggestion for creating a more immersive and intimate perspective is getting closer to the subject and lower to the ground. He recommends placing your camera atop a beanbag or other small support to capture a captivating view of a flower from the side. His goal for composing the shot is to accentuate the small subject by separating it from a soft background.
Mohrle demonstrates two simple tricks for enhancing this effect, the first being a wide aperture to create shallow depth of field “so your subject stays sharp while the background blurs into a soft wash of color.” The second less-familiar option is to take advantage of backlight while shooting at Golden Hour, “letting the sun hit your subject from behind to introduce more depth and a beautiful glow.”
Just as with flower photography Mohrle’s other two recommended subjects each require a unique method of configuring the camera and their own approach to focusing, composition, lighting, and other essential variables. Next on the agenda is photographing forest scenes, taking advantage of fresh green foliage.
One tip here is to shoot after an early morning rain when the low angle of the sun imbues a scene with soft, moody light passing through the trees. You’ll also learn a variety of helpful ways to compose such scenes using leading lines, tall tree trunks, long shadows, and other eye-catching elements.
Last on the list is harnessing the beauty of gentle, rolling hills that paint a scene with lush green tones and soft textures, capped by dramatic skies. One again, Mohrle walks you through the process with some very helpful tips and techniques with which you may not be familiar
The PHLOG Photography YouTube channel is full of how-to videos for shooting and editing outdoor photos to perfection, so be sure to pay a visit and explore.
And don’t miss the tutorial we featured with another adept outdoor photographer who demonstrates how easy it is to avoid mistakes when shooting panorama landscapes with an iPhone, with all the camera settings and techniques you need for doing it right.
