Adding Blur to Your Images the Right Way

One of the fundamental rules of digital photography is that you should stabilize your digital camera and select suitably fast shutter speeds to avoid blur. While there’s no question that sharpness is normally preferable, there are several instances where using blur intentionally can produce shots with more punch.

With action subjects, for example, a degree of blur often conveys a stronger sensation of movement and energy than a pin-sharp capture. Motion blur can also be used to produce semi-abstract or abstract imagery with a painterly quality or to give documentary and candid shots a more spontaneous, edgy feel.

One option is to use selective blur – keep your digital camera rock steady and set a slower shutter speed to allow subject movement to blur while keeping the rest of the scene sharp. This can produce particularly great effects for groups of people, animals or birds – individuals that remain static or move slowly are sharper and boldly stand out from those that are more active.

Your other option is to move the actual camera during a longer exposure and blur the entire scene. It’s less predictable than using a tripod, but the surprise factor is half the fun and the results are often more dramatic. Static subjects such as trees, flowers or even entire landscapes and cityscapes are also fair game. You could begin by simply handholding with a shutter speed slightly too slow to avoid camera shake. Then try “painting” with the camera, making sweeping curves or horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. Random movements are okay but for more fluid results it helps if you follow the general direction of the action leading lines within a scene. Also try twisting the camera upside down to create a circular motion blur.

It is possible to produce eye-catching slow shutter effects by shooting from a moving car, or while walking, jogging or running alongside your subject. Try zooming your lens in and out at the same time for even wilder effects. If you are deft enough, you could even try hurling your camera up in the air.

Moving your camera during an exposure may seem rather counter-intuitive and you can initially end up with far more bloopers than works of art, but it does get easier with practice. This is a great way of creating images unique to you. Think of each frame as a blank canvas and photography as your means of personal expression. What’s the worst that can happen? You delete some shots on your memory card.

Tagged with: Abstract Imagery • Candid Shots • Circular Motion • Curves • Diagonal Lines • Digital Photography • Landscapes And Cityscapes • Motion Blur • Random Movements • Sharpness • Shutter Speed • Slow Shutter • Static Subjects

Filed under: Photography Tips

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