Panning Photography, a tricky style

Panning photography was one of my experiments. Hard to master, but worthwhile the effort as it offers very creative and challenging perspectives.

Once again, I watched a video and said to myself: “I’ve got to try that!”. And there we go… with a full backpack to a main street nearby home.

Panning on vehicles

First, I went to a large street close to a round-about. Therefore, cars on both sides drove quite slowly, which made it easier for me. So, I began with cars.

1/60s f11 ISO 160 35mm.

At the photo above, The angle was not ideal, but I got my subject in focus. I was not happy with the background that was too visible, I wanted it to be as blurred as possible and I wanted my subject to be at the center.

1/60s f11 ISO 160 35mm.

I finally got it at the center of the image, my best car shot that day. But I am still not happy with it. The background is not blurred enough, all cars have more or less the same color and, frankly, the spot is quite ugly. Some more attempts with worse results and then I went for walkers.

Panning on runners, bikers and others

1/15s f22 ISO 100 35mm.

Not too bad at all. The composition is not brillant, but my subject is more or less in focus and interesting. I have tried also people walking, neverthless, the photos were poor. However is was interesting to notice that with a shutter speed of 1/15s I almost got a walker in focus. Next time I will try a little bit faster shutter speed.

1/15s f22 ISO 100 35mm.

The scooter was also nice to shoot. I love the background blur, but the subject is a bit out of focus. Well, it gives the sens of speed, doesn’t it?

Changing the logic

1/15s f22 ISO 100 35mm.

And then I tried the opposite. Instead of focusing on the people in movement, I chose the place to be seen and let the runners get blurred. And I loved the result. OK, the photo is not good, but I like the feeling, the runners are surreal, like they had superpowers.

Panning photography is an exciting experience. I found it difficult, it’s necessary to train much more to really control what you do, but it’s worthwhile. I’m doing it again and again until I get it. Have you ever tried?

The inspiring video by Joan Vendrell

The video by Joan Vendrell explains in a very simple way how to do panning photography.

A new departure…

That’s me trying some bokeh with lights in the background and a drapé. I forgot the back light, a pity.

–“You should be a photographer!”, I used to hear. For many years, people appreciated my photos and encouraged me to do something more. This year, 2019, I have finally decided to take a step further.

This blog is about a path, my way from amateur photographer towards professional. I am here to share my experience, to show what worked, what didn’t work, how and why, or just to ask you what you think of it.

I have studied photography in the eighties. At the university with Luís Bit Bittencourt and private lessons with Cristiano Requião. All analogic, of course. Throughout the years, I have taken pictures more or less furiously. I had to adapt to digital, learn the editing softwares, etc. I still have a lot to learn in terms of diferent types of photography and even some “basics” as lightening, composition.

I guess living is a never ending learning

Some say the worst photographers are the ones over fifties that decided to dedicate to photography and think they know it all. Well, I am 51, very soon 52 and I definitely don’t know it all. I am still learning, probably for the rest of my life. What I want to share here is not the goal, but the journey.

If you look at my previous posts, you will see a totally different subject and in another language. That’s life, we come and go as the waves in the sea. Instead of wiping off everything and begining something entirely new, tabula rasa, I chose to add. Because everything is part of the path. We reinvent ourselves from the existing one, not from thin air.

Therefore, you will have experiences shared here and you are part of it too. Give your opinion, ask questions, defy me in a challenge.

Let’s walk together in this beautiful way towards professional photography.