Why Use Blur Creatively?Blur can be used to:

• Calm otherwise visually busy scenes• Convey a sense of motion• Add a sense of drama to a picture• Insert secondary subjects without detracting from the main subject

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Creative Blur Techniques – PanningPanning is a technique in which the photographer moves the camera with the

subject during an exposure.

Technique:• Shutter speed must be slow enough to capture motion• Try to eliminate unwanted shake, blur• Point camera at moving subject and follow during exposure• Follow through!

Creative Blur Techniques – PanningPerfecting the technique:

• Try using a tripod or monopod for easier panning• Take many shots

Potential problems:• Blur in unwanted directions• Subjects moving non-linearly• Overexposure

Credit: AngMoKi

Creative Blur Techniques – Zoom BlurZoom blur is a technique in which the photographer increases or decreases the

focal length during an exposure.

Technique:• Shutter speed must again be slow enough to capture motion• Hold camera as steady as possible • Easiest way: take the picture during the zoom (zooming during the

exposure can be trickier)

Creative Blur Techniques – Zoom BlurPerfecting the technique:

• Consider how much zoom you want• Try using a tripod or monopod to steady the shot

Potential problems:• Not zooming to a fixed point (mostly due to rotational shake)• Too much zoom

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingLight painting is a technique in which lights are used in dark settings in order to

“draw” with the light

Technique:• Use a tripod (makeshift or otherwise)!• Shutter speed depends on the intricacy of the drawing• While the exposure is being taken, draw in the air with the light facing

toward camera• Remember if there’s any ambient light, you or the background might be in

the picture as well• When finished with the painting, turn off the light as to avoid bright spots• Easiest way: exposure begins -> turn on the light -> paint -> turn off the

light -> exposure ends

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingPerfecting the technique:

• The darker the setting, the less extra light hits the sensor (i.e., less unwanted light from buildings, people, etc.)

• Use brighter or softer lights, depending on the desired effect• Try not to point the light DIRECTLY into the lens, this will typically be too

bright and will create a flare (unless a flare is desired, of course)• Try using off camera flashes to add new effects• Tripods are almost essential with this technique since most exposures will

be long (>5 seconds)• A flashlight isn’t the only thing that creates alight painting. Try this

technique with fire, fireworks, cars [please don’t hurt yourself].

Potential problems:• Blurry subject• Unwanted light• Drawing without being able to see what is being drawn can be difficult• Unwanted flares• Remember the camera records a mirror image, so be prepared to write

backwards

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingBad Examples

Questions to keep in mind:•What’s wrong?•How can it be improved?

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingGood Examples

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingLight painting techniques can be used to create

• Startrails • Startrails are streaks of light from stars captured during long

exposures due to the Earth’s rotation.• These are slightly visible on shorter exposures (5-10 minutes)• Very visible on longer exposures (30 minutes – 1 hour+)• Prone to problems caused by light pollution

Note that the stars appear to be rotating about a fixed point, namely the “North Star” (Polaris). (Of course, keep in mind that the Earth is the body doing the rotating.)

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingLight painting techniques can be used to create

• Double exposure-like effects• Using a bright light like an off-camera flash, you can “paint” multiple

copies of the same person, object, etc. onto the same shot.• These are difficult to get without extra unwanted light (must be shot

in very dark places or alternatively, with powerful flashes and small apertures)

Creative Blur Techniques – Light PaintingLight painting techniques can be used with a flash to combine a frozen image with

blur and motion• Creates a sense of motion while still giving the eye a clear subject