This week’s photo assignment is about recording motion. Photographically speaking, motion can be recorded two ways: frozen or blurred. Sharp motion images are fairly straight forward and easy to produce when combined with a fast shutter speed and good timing. Successful blurred motion shots, on the other hand, are much more difficult to create. In this assignment, our goal is to use panning techniques to incorporate a sense of motion into the images. Panning is a technique whereby a slow shutter speed is combined with fluid tracking of the subject to produce a blurred image in which the subject is still recognizable. The result is the creation of a sense of motion in a still image.
The first key to panning involves selecting the correct shutter speed. To successfully pan, the camera’s shutter speed must be set to a fairly slow setting. The ideal setting will vary with each pan, depending on the subject’s speed. Slower subjects will require slower shutter speeds to enhance the blurring effect. With fairly quick moving subjects (running animals or moving cars) I usually recommend shutter speeds in the 1/10 – 1/15 of a second. This is a good starting point from which you can experiment to find the best results.
The second key to creating good pan motion shots involves tracking the subject. Rather then holding still, panning requires that the photographer follows the subject while taking the shot. Usually a smooth twisting of the hips while shooting is all it takes to keep the subject within the frame. A frequent mistake photographers make is to stop tracking the subject as they press the shutter button. This ruins the smooth blurring effect we are after. For a pan to work, it is essential that the movements be smooth and continue until after all of the images have been taken. One great way to combat this tendency is to fire multiple frames of the subject as you pan. Don’t settle for a single image when you can create multiple images to choose from (you never know which frame will be the best).
Good pan motion images are not easy to produce, but when successful they help to depict movement in a unique way to brings a sense of motion and energy to the image.
(click on the images to see larger versions)
(click on the image to see larger version)
I was looking through some pictures from earlier in the year (it helps to remind me that I occasionally shoot things other then wildlife) and I came across this image of my son, Tristan, standing in a field of Bluebonnets. This past spring yielded a fantastic wildflower display in the Texas Hill Country and I took the kids out one day to capture pictures. This is one of my favorites from the shoot. Tristan was getting a little tired of posing (the just one more argument having stopped working long ago) when I decided to try something different. Rather then directing him, I started standing the way I wanted Tristan to pose. Tristan thought this was hysterical and started to copy me. I assure you, the pose looks a lot better on Tristan then it did on me.
Image was captured using a Canon 1Ds mark 3, 70-200mm lens, at 400 ISO. The camera was mounted on a Gitzo tripod for support. A cable release was used to trigger the camera so that I could maintain the pose and, most importantly, Tristan’s interest.
Photoshop World:
Today marks the beginning of Photoshop World in Las Vegas. Hosting some 4,000 attendees, Photoshop World is the place to learn about Photoshop (or any other Adobe product). I have been to the conference twice (once in Las Vegas and once in Orlando) and I will return. The instructors are top notch (including Scott Kelby, David Ziser, Joe McNally, and Matt Kloskowski to name a few) and the amount of information is overwhelming (my conference book from last year approaches the size as the Los Angles phone book!). Highly recommended.
Adobe Lightroom Update:
Adobe recently announced an update to their popular image management program, Lightroom (version 3.2). This update addresses the following issues:
- Additional camera support
- Numerous corrections for issues introduced in Lightroom 3.0
- Direct publishing to Facebook
- Over 120 new lens profiles
Upcoming Classes:
I will be teaching a two day course “Introduction to Photography and Photoshop” at the Austin School of Film in Austin, Texas (October 17 & 24).
As photographers, we have limited time to spend on photography. Even with no logistical restraints, there are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. Given these limitations, it becomes important for us to acknowledge an important point, not all photographic subjects are created equal. With limited time available, it is beneficial to evaluate potential subjects and focus our efforts on those most likely to create the images were are after. Note that I do not say we have to focus on the prettiest subject (though that often is where our attention goes). Rather, as photographers we must make decisions about the purpose of the photograph and then select our subjects so as to maximize the image’s impact. If the message is about the beauty of nature, then a beautiful flower will better tell the story then a wilted one. If, on the other hand, the image’s purpose is to showcase the exploitation of natural resources, a harsh, barren landscape might better serve.
Lets look at an example using the two ostrich images below. Both images depict ostriches on the savannah. The first shows a female ostrich sitting among a field of flowers. The second, a male in full breeding plumage. I like both images and often include both in slideshows. I don’t for a moment, however, fool myself into thinking that they have the same level of impact when viewed. When comparing the two, the image of the male stands out dramatically because of its color and posture. The female, while beautiful in her own right, is much less impressive when compared to the male. So, how as a photographer should I devote my limited time between these two subject? Ideally, I would spend time shooting both (which I obviously did). If time was limited, however, I would focus my attention on the male as he is the more dramatic subject, and is more likely to produce an image with impact.
When out photographing, remember that your time is limited, and all subjects are not created equal. How will you choose to spend your time?
(click on the images to see larger versions)
The image of the female ostrich (top image) was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens, at 400 ISO. The image was shot from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to support the lens.
The image of the male ostrich (bottom image) was captured using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 1.4 teleconverter attached, at 200 ISO. The image was shot from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to support the lens.
(click on the image to see larger version)
Sometimes the best thing you can do when photographing wildlife is to wait for something to happen. It is amazing how often patience pays off.
The image was crated using a Canon 1D mark 4, 120-300mm Sigma lens with a 1.4 teleconverter attached, at 400 ISO. The lens was mounted on a Gitzo tripod with a ball head.
As a photography teacher, I am constantly searching for themes around which I can base assignments. In the interest of sharing my ideas and assisting other teachers out there, I am introducing the weekly photo assignment. Each Friday I will post a new photographic challenge to keep either yourself or your students busy. In some cases, the themes will be my own concepts while others will be from viewing the work of other photographers (with appropriate credit given of course). In each case, I will try to include a number of examples to help clarify the concept and hopefully stir the creative embers. With that, I give you the first weekly photo assignment: The Rule of Thirds.
The Rule of thirds is a foundation of photographic composition. Imagine two horizontal lines and two vertical lines breaking up your image (like a tic-tac-toe grid shown above). Where the lines intersect each other (the red dots) are the image’s points of power. To apply the rule of thirds, move the most important parts of the image off center and place it directly under one of the points of power. Check out how the images below each utilize the rule of thirds, then grab your camera and see what you can do. Good luck.
(click on the images to see larger versions)
(click on the image to see larger version)
Below is a testimonial from Chas (Charles) Millen, a talented amateur photographer from Australia who recently attended one of my Tanzanian Photo Safaris. The image above shows Chas sharing a digital video with a group of Massai children during a visit to their boma. The kids had seen digital images before, but it was clear from their reactions that video was something new.
Dear Chris,
After signing up for your photo safari in Tanzania I was extremely excited about what was in store for me. This was to be my first ever time photographing wildlife on a large scale!
From an overly enthusiastic amateur photographer’s point of view, you were a huge help for me in the early stages of preparation for the trip & also during the trip. Offering me advise on appropriate gear that would yield me the best results possible & optimal camera settings to improve my chances of capturing those amazing moments that we saw so many of. I had such a rewarding time in places like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Tarangire National Park. With so much wildlife, it really gave me the opportunity to grow as a photographer & learn some new skills to push my abilities further.
Upon finishing my safari with you Chris you will recall me saying how much I wanted to return for another safari in the future. It was a truly amazing experience, complimented by an amazing support crew of charismatic guides, friendly camp staff & amazing food at the end of each action packed day of wildlife photography.
Every day was an adventure & I saw something amazing on every single one of those days.
Thank you for the great experience Chris & I hope to head out on safari with you again in the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Charles Millen
Australia
See some examples of what I was able to achieve on safari with Chris by checking out my Flickr page.
(click on the image to see larger version)
Do your pictures match your memories? Do the buttons on your camera intimidate you? Does the word Photoshop cause you to break into a cold sweat? Then this is the class for you! Join me at the Austin School of Film in Austin, Texas for my upcoming class: Introduction to Photography & Photoshop. This two day course (October 17 & 24: 10am – 4pm) focuses on developing a photographic foundation and an introduction to the tools and techniques of Adobe Photoshop. Each student will be provided with their own workstation during the Photoshop portion of the course. All levels are welcome, from the beginning photographer who wants to learn what their camera can do to the more experienced who want to take their images to the next level. For more information and to enroll, click here.
(click on the image to see larger version)
This post marks the beginning of a new editorial schedule entitled Technique Tuesday. Each Tuesday, I will post a photographic tip or suggestions with the goal of develop your understanding of photography and the skills necessary to create the pictures you want.
This week we will begin with a simple concept that has resulted in some of my best images: fill the frame with something interesting. Everywhere we look, potential photographs exist. Too often, however, we include too much and the resulting image lacks focus. Viewers become confused about our message and loss interest. The solution? When you find a subject, fill the frame with it. Cut out everything but the subject. If it is a person, get up close and personal until their face is all you see (make sure they are OK with this before you try). For wildlife, pull out the telephoto lens and creep forward as close as possible. Getting closer, either physically (move those legs) or optically (pull out the telephoto lens) helps eliminate the distractions and focus all of the attention on your subject. This is not to say that you should never include the surroundings as part of the photo, but include them because they are important, not because you got lazy and didn’t fill the frame.
The above image of a Cheetah was captured in the Northern part of the Serengeti, Tanzania. The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 2x teleconverter attached, at 500 ISO. The image was made from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to stabilize the lens.
(click on the mage to see larger version)
North Seymour Island in the Galapagos is a bird photographer’s paradise. Trails wind around the island, bring you close to numerous birds, including blue footed boobies, frigate birds, and gulls. As I wandered around the island, this blue footed boobie took an intense interest in my passing. I wonder what was going through his head as I passed?
Image was captured using a Canon 1D mark 4, 120-300mm Sigma lens with a 1.4 teleconverter attached, at 400 ISO. The camera was mounted on a Gitzo tripod and ball head for support.
