Motion Blur – der Einsatz von Bewegungsunschärfe

Motion Blur – der Einsatz von Bewegungsunschärfe

Kamera Express

How often does it happen that you look at your images after a shoot and most of them are blurred? Almost everyone knows that annoying feeling. But what if that blur is exactly what you want? In photography, this is called motion blur. At Kamera-Express you can learn all about motion blur, so you have another technique at your disposal to take your photography to a new level.

Definition of motion blur

Motion blur is a popular technique in photography for achieving special effects. We speak of motion blur when blur appears in the image in the form of smeared areas. The cause is objects that are moving. As a result, only the moving object is blurred, while the rest of the image is sharp and in focus. This puts the movement in the foreground, so the viewer can experience it as a feeling.

However, motion blur does not occur simply because an object moves while you point the camera at it. It is created deliberately by setting the shutter speed, the aperture and the stabilisation accordingly. So it is essential to know your camera settings if you want to create the blur effect.

Motion blur is often used in sports photography, but it can be useful for all subjects that are moving in one way or another. That means the technique is also suitable at race tracks, for aircraft or for water.

Reasons for using motion blur and areas of application

There are various reasons for creating the blur effect. Of course, it is primarily about depicting movement, but the underlying reasons go much further. Although the effects are basically similar, there are occasional differences between photography and videography:

Photography

Depicting movement in a photo seems almost impossible; after all, a photo is a snapshot. This is exactly where motion blur comes in. With the help of this technique, the smeared area conveys a sense of movement.

But it is not only about showing movement, it is also about creating a realistic situation. This means that different movements can be shown within a single image. The faster an object moves, for example, the blurrier it appears. Thanks to the sharp background, you get the feeling of being present in that moment.

Videography

Motion blur is, however, also possible in videography. You are probably wondering why the blur effect is used in a video, since moving objects can be captured without any problem. The answer is simple: it is about a natural experience. Every natural movement brings a certain amount of blur with it, so motion blur lets you film in a lifelike way.

It should also be noted that different cameras, and above all different settings, are used when filming. One special area is cinematography. Because of the settings, such as the shutter speed, it is necessary to deliberately create certain effects using specific techniques.


How it differs from other photography techniques involving movement

The technique is often referred to as 'panning'. That is not correct, however. Similar effects can be achieved, but the two terms cannot be used interchangeably. Panning means following the subject. So while movement does play an important role, the method is a different one.

With panning you focus on the object that is moving and follow it in its movement along the horizontal. Here too, any movement can be captured, although an object moving along a horizontal line is the easiest to photograph. With the motion blur technique, by contrast, the camera is held still and only the settings are adjusted.

Both techniques depict movement, but the result is still different. With motion blur the object is blurred and the background is sharp, whereas with panning the object is sharp and the surroundings are captured blurred. Anyone devoted to professional photography should opt for motion blur, as it delivers a unique result with great impact.

In many cases, numerous images are also taken in quick succession in order to compose a single image with movement during editing. Motion blur makes that step unnecessary, so you can devote yourself to the moment and to taking pictures.

Tips for capturing motion blur

You are surely convinced by now that motion blur is the perfect way to photograph moving objects and achieve a realistic result. So that you can put the theory into practice, here are a few useful tips that make the blur effect possible.

Before you start shooting, you should make sure you have the right camera and the necessary equipment. Kamera-Express is the perfect partner if you are interested in photography. If you follow these tips, nothing stands in the way of an exceptional result:

1. Lengthen the shutter speed

The blur effect is created when the movement of an object takes place during the exposure. This means the shutter speed has to be long enough for the camera to record enough movement. If a short shutter speed is chosen, the shot is usually not sufficient. It is a different story when the shutter speed is lengthened.

How long the shutter speed needs to be depends on how fast the object is moving. While a short shutter speed is already suitable for a very fast object, there are slow movements that require up to 5 seconds. You should therefore know your camera settings well and bring some patience. Do keep an eye on the light conditions when working with a long shutter speed, so that overexposure does not occur.

2. Stabilise the camera

To achieve motion blur optimally, the camera needs to be held as still as possible. Otherwise camera shake occurs, which affects the blur effect negatively. The result then does not have the quality you want.

While some photographers hold the camera in their hands, others rely on a tripod. A tripod not only provides stability, but also the option of setting different angles. There are various tripods that can be chosen according to their function. Camera functions such as the self-timer can also be helpful.

 

 

 

 

3. Use shutter priority mode

With motion blur, the shutter speed therefore plays an important role. Because it has to be adapted to the situation and it may be necessary to try out different scenarios, many people set their camera to manual mode. Bear in mind, though, that not only the shutter speed has to be selected manually, but other settings too, such as the ISO value and the aperture.

It is therefore advisable to use shutter priority mode. In this setting you can set the shutter speed manually, while all other factors automatically ensure the correct exposure. Only when all settings are optimally adjusted can good quality with a realistic effect be achieved.

 

4. Tell a story

That a photo should deliver good quality and stand out from the rest goes without saying. All photographers are constantly looking for new challenges in order to deliver ever better images. But an image is only as good as the story it tells. Especially where motion blur is concerned, this aspect should not be neglected.

Think in advance about which story you want to tell the viewer. If the action is clear to you, the viewer can also step into the situation through the movement you have created and pick up on the emotions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Include light trails

If you are trying the technique for the first time, you can start with night photography. At night it is easier to choose a long shutter speed without affecting the quality of the image. What is more, at night you can play with light. Whether street lights in the background or the headlights of the moving subject, lights give a photo something unique.

If the lights are part of the blur, this can create a gentle impression or add drama. You can also build shapes into the photo. Curved lines, arcs or clean straight lines can all be created with light.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Prevent overexposure

As mentioned, overexposure can become a problem, because the lens takes in not only a lot of movement but also a lot of light at the same time. To prevent this, the aperture has to be set accordingly. Anyone using shutter priority mode can skip this aspect, but if you shoot in manual mode you must pay close attention to the light conditions.

There are various settings that need to be made in this respect. Firstly, a small aperture has to be chosen. This prevents too much light from reaching the lens. You should also lower the ISO value. The ISO value stands for the light sensitivity of the image sensor. If needed, a neutral density filter can also be used, which reduces the amount of light reaching the image sensor.

 

Synthetic motion blur: adding motion blur through image editing

You will not always succeed in achieving the blur effect while shooting. This can have various causes. On the one hand, you may not manage to get the right settings; on the other hand, the camera can be the reason. If the camera does not have the necessary functions and settings, motion blur is not possible.

Whatever the reason why the effect cannot be created while shooting, Photoshop lets you add motion blur afterwards quickly and easily. Load your image into Photoshop and select the part you want to blur. You also have the option of determining the direction of the movement. You will find motion blur under the Filter function.

Short summary

With motion blur you have a tool at hand that gives your photos that certain something and lets you tell the viewer a story. Once you have made the right settings on your camera, you can start shooting. Give it a try, get to know your camera and give your photos the blur effect that promises uniqueness!