Why Use Blur Creatively? Blur can be used to: Calm otherwise visually busy scenes Convey a sense of motion Add a sense of drama to a picture Insert secondary subjects without detracting from the main subject Turns this Into this Turns this Into this

Creative Blur Techniques – Panning Panning is a technique in which the photographer moves the camera with the subject during an exposure. Technique: Shutter speed must be slow enough to capture motion Try to eliminate unwanted shake, blur Point camera at moving subject and follow during exposure Follow through!

Creative Blur Techniques – Panning Perfecting the technique: Try using a tripod or monopod for easier panning Take many shots Potential problems: Blur in unwanted directions Subjects moving non-linearly Overexposure Credit: AngMoKi

Creative Blur Techniques – Zoom Blur Zoom blur is a technique in which the photographer increases or decreases the focal length during an exposure. Technique: Shutter speed must again be slow enough to capture motion Hold camera as steady as possible Easiest way: take the picture during the zoom (zooming during the exposure can be trickier)

Creative Blur Techniques – Zoom Blur Perfecting the technique: Consider how much zoom you want Try using a tripod or monopod to steady the shot Potential problems: Not zooming to a fixed point (mostly due to rotational shake) Too much zoom

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Light painting is a technique in which lights are used in dark settings in order to “draw” with the light Technique: Use a tripod (makeshift or otherwise)! Shutter speed depends on the intricacy of the drawing While the exposure is being taken, draw in the air with the light facing toward camera Remember if there’s any ambient light, you or the background might be in the picture as well When finished with the painting, turn off the light as to avoid bright spots Easiest way: exposure begins -> turn on the light -> paint -> turn off the light -> exposure ends

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Perfecting the technique: The darker the setting, the less extra light hits the sensor (i.e., less unwanted light from buildings, people, etc.) Use brighter or softer lights, depending on the desired effect Try not to point the light DIRECTLY into the lens, this will typically be too bright and will create a flare (unless a flare is desired, of course) Try using off camera flashes to add new effects Tripods are almost essential with this technique since most exposures will be long (>5 seconds) A flashlight isn’t the only thing that creates alight painting. Try this technique with fire, fireworks, cars [please don’t hurt yourself]. Potential problems: Blurry subject Unwanted light Drawing without being able to see what is being drawn can be difficult Unwanted flares Remember the camera records a mirror image, so be prepared to write backwards

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Bad Examples Questions to keep in mind: What’s wrong? How can it be improved?

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Good Examples

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Light painting techniques can be used to create Startrails Startrails are streaks of light from stars captured during long exposures due to the Earth’s rotation. These are slightly visible on shorter exposures (5-10 minutes) Very visible on longer exposures (30 minutes – 1 hour+) Prone to problems caused by light pollution

Note that the stars appear to be rotating about a fixed point, namely the “North Star” (Polaris). (Of course, keep in mind that the Earth is the body doing the rotating.)

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Light painting techniques can be used to create Double exposure-like effects Using a bright light like an off-camera flash, you can “paint” multiple copies of the same person, object, etc. onto the same shot. These are difficult to get without extra unwanted light (must be shot in very dark places or alternatively, with powerful flashes and small apertures)

Creative Blur Techniques – Light Painting Light painting techniques can be used with a flash to combine a frozen image with blur and motion Creates a sense of motion while still giving the eye a clear subject