Project 5

Using different shutters speeds whilst panning can give a different effect on the photograph. A fast shutter speed captures the image but with no sense of movement other than implied. A slower shutter speed will blur movement giving a much greater sense of the movement.


The two photographs below were both taken within a short period of time the first using a shutter speed of 1/3200 second and the second using a shutter speed of 1/30 second.

In this picture, the waves, wheels and the horses legs are completely frozen, and the the only way we can tell there is movement is from our own knowledge, i.e. that waves do not stand still, horses do not naturally stand on two legs, and if the horse is running, then the wheels must be going round. Other than our own knowledge of the subject, there is no indication of movement.

In this shot of the same scene the horses legs are blurred and the spokes on the wheel are blurred giving a much better sense of movement. The waves also are blurred although this is as much from the camera panning from side to side as it is from the actual movement of the waves.

Both pictures have their merits and I believe the first (fast shutter speed) is great for a study of the subject that is, if you want to examine any or all of the details. The second gives a much greater impression of speed and lets the viewer almost share in the excitement the riders are experiencing.