MOTION BLUR Sometimes, photographers deliberately choose slower shutter speeds in order to capture movement. In order to gain the maximum control of the cameras settings, you should shoot using the Manual Mode (M). This means you can choose both the shutter speed and aperture setting. Shutter Speed Measured in fractions of a second. This is the speed at which the shutter opens and closes, allowing light to pass through the lens aperture and onto the film/sensor in the back of the camera. e.g. 1000 = 1/1000th of a second (this will stop motion dead) 15 = 1/15th of a second (in most cases speeds slower than this will capture some motion blur) Aperture Indicated as f-stops. This is the size of the opening behind the lens through which light passes. e.g. f/2 = a relatively wide aperture allowing more light through the lens f/22 = a relatively small aperture allowing less light though the lens
The aperture setting and choice of lens also affect the depth of field in the image. This describes how much of the image is in focus. A small aperture setting will produce a broad depth of field (most of the subject in focus). fig.1
fig.1 A wide aperture setting (e.g. f2.8) will produce a shallow depth of field (less of the subject in focus). fig.2
fig.2 Here are a couple of examples of photographers who have experimented with motion blur: Alexey Titarenko - Untitled (Crowd 2) 1993 Here, the photographer has kept the shutter open for a relatively long time. He has probably chosen a small aperture given that the hand rail in the BTEC Media Worksheet: Photography Unit
foreground and the buildings in the background appear both to be in focus. He may have also used a flash at various points to freeze the movement of the hands.
Ernst Haas - Black Wave, 1966 This image captures the dynamic movement of the horses silhouetted on the horizon. Again, a long shutter speed has been chosen to allow for the shapes of the horses to overlap, suggesting rapid movement.
Your task 1. (use 2.
3. books (remember decisions you made and why
Create a page or two in your book describing how and why photographers use motion blur this guide to help you) Working in small groups, experiment with making motion blur images with the school building as a backdrop (try with and without a tripod and compare the effects) Print the results, stick in your and annotate carefully that you get more marks for explaining the than simply describing what you did)
Extension task 4.Using a photograph you have already taken of a static image, in focus, experiment with using Photoshop to create artificial motion blur (ask for help with this when you are ready)
BTEC Media Worksheet: Photography Unit