Action Tip

Patience wi th panning

71 With fast-moving subjects, and particularly if they are close to the camera, it is impossible to freeze the movement using a fast shutter speed alone. You therefore need to track the subject smoothly as it moves across your field of view, using a technique known as panning. You can turn panning into a more artistic effect if you combine the pan with a slower shutter speed, so that the movement of the camera creates blurred streaks in the background, while keeping the subject relatively sharp. The shutter speed you need will depend on the subject’s speed. For a runner try a speed of 1/15 sec; for a track cyclist or car try 1/125 sec.