Tips Panning In Photography

Panning in Photography & How to Set It on a Canon Camera

What is panning in photography

The panning technique is a photography technique aimed at getting images that appear as if the movement is frozen.

The resulting image focuses on the moving object, while the image background looks blurry.

This technique is commonly used by sports photographers to photograph athletes while moving in a sports competition.

Apart from that, this technique can also be used to photograph fast-moving animals, such as flying birds, running tigers and other animals.

How to make panning photos easily?

1. Set Your Camera to Shutter Priority Mode

You should set your camera's Mode dial to Shutter Priority Tv or S. This allows you to set the shutter speed easily. 

This is because the panning technique is about choosing the right shutter speed.

This mode will also be very useful when shooting in varying lighting conditions

2. Select Slow or Low Shutter Speed

The panning effect really depends on the shutter speed. To keep your objects sharp and the background blurry, you must choose your shutter speed carefully and precisely.

The shutter speed you should choose depends on the speed of the object's movement and the relative speed of the object to the camera.

The ideal shutter speed is between 1/30 to 1/60.

If you want to photograph runners, you can try using a shutter speed of 1/30s.

If you want to photograph a car driving on the road, try using a shutter speed of 1/60s.

The point of setting the shutter speed is that when the object looks less sharp, then you have to increase the shutter speed.

However, if the background is not blurry enough, then you have to lower the shutter speed.

You can get the shutter speed right when you keep practicing applying panning techniques.

3. Pay attention to the shooting position

You should make sure that you have enough space around you when taking pictures.

Keep a distance between your camera and moving objects.

If you position yourself too close to a moving subject, your lens may have difficulty focusing on the subject. Remember that camera lenses also have a minimum focusing distance to work optimally.

4. Moving the Lens and Camera

You must move the lens calmly, slowly and steadily in order to capture sharp images of objects.

The more gently and calmly you move the camera following the movement of the object, the sharper the object will look against the blurred background.

The direction of camera movement must also focus on the horizontal axis, from left to right or from right to left.

You have to get your hands used to taking pictures like this so you can get good, precise panning photos.

That is complete information regarding panning techniques. In order for you to be proficient in using it, you really have to practice continuously!

Even though the panning technique is considered a quite difficult photography technique, with consistent practice you can definitely master it.

Also stay enthusiastic about learning other photography techniques