More Ways to Create Motion in Photos

Last week, I wrote about my ONE technique that changed my

portrait work FOREVER...

CREATING MOVEMENT!

Yes, this photo of Alyssa in the field with balloons is

very pretty...

But this next version is ALIVE and

MOVING!

I want to show you more examples and ways to create motion

or movement in your photos.

Mostly, I want to inspire you to challenge yourself, and REALLY look

for ways to capture emotion, talents, and interests

by creating motion in your portraits!

This is how the creative process played out for me while doing

a senior portrait shoot last summer:

This is a perfectly nice photo of Senior Abby who is a pitcher on her

high school softball team.  She wanted to wear her uniform in some of

her senior portraits.

Most photographers would take a shot like this.

                                                      I did...but I thought it was boring.

How can we add movement????

Yes, this is clever...the ball is in the air, and she is reacting to it.

But, Abby is a pitcher.  I want her pitching!

Now, this is some movement!

And, she's pitching!

I better DUCK....FAST!

Let me take it one step further...a close-up

to really capture the intensity of her face!

Okay, so I added the softball in Photoshop.

Always consider what you can do with editing

to take the action a step further!

I carefully thought out this shot, capturing her in action, while

keeping sharp focus on her face.

I even photographed the ball out of focus knowing

I would add it later in Photoshop!

I constantly challenge myself to

go beyond a regular, boring, posed snapshot and

create ART!

I always ask myself this question when someone is paying me

to do portrait work for them:

Could they take this photo with their phone????

If they can, it's a snapshot.

They are paying ME to go beyond a snapshot and create ART!

(That's my biggest tip for portrait photographers!)

Study my lesson in how to set your camera and shoot action and movement

in  THIS BLOG POST.....then

PRACTICE!!!

I know it seems complicated, and it takes time and courage

 to practice and set the camera

to shoot the motion.

But you will become an artist in the process.

I asked Susie to skate for me on her backyard rink

 so I could practice these techniques a few years ago.

(Actually pretty dumb to try this in the winter!)

I was FREEZING!  My fingers were numb! 

I goofed up SO MANY TIMES!

I was embarrassed because poor Susie was getting dizzy!

"Susie, can you do that spin AGAIN for the 20th time?  Pretty please??

Can you change outfits so I can try another 50 times???"

This is the shoot when I finally caught on how to do it!!!!!!

When you step out of your comfort zone and TRY...

you grow....

and grow...

and GROW...

Even intentional blur can be art!

Play with depth of field, and watch for natural movement and action!

Natural is always the BEST!

Yes, you can pose this shot:

But be alert to capture this next shot

that usually happens naturally after you take the posed shot:

Another way to create the feeling of motion in a photo,

is to have something other than your subject moving.

This next photo of Vintage Val was taken with a slower shutter speed.

I had her stand very still and the longer shutter captured the

movement of the car and a person walking.

My camera was set at f/18,  1/5 sec. shutter, ISO 100

taken with my 50mm 1.4 lens and my Canon 5D Mark III.

I was on tripod as I didn't want to shake with the slow shutter!

But you will need to play around with this to get

the correct settings for your location and action.

Here's another photo where I had the subject stay still

during a longer shutter

and something else in the photo is moving:

I simply had Mackenzie twirl the umbrella,

which is much more dynamic than this:

 

Moving clothing is another great way to show action!

Here's another fun way to create the movement:

Add motion blur to the background in Photoshop or PSE!

Watch my video tutorial to learn how to do this

very easy technique:

CLICK HERE

As you learn and practice,

I would love for you to share some of your

motion photos on my FACEBOOK PAGE.

Spring weather will be here SOON...so get out there with your camera

manual and start reading and PRACTICING!