 (click on photos to enlarge) I would like to address the process of intentionally blurring an image. "Blurring" refers to observable movement in a photograph. Blur is usually created by a slow shutter speed, camera movement, and/or subject movement.  I panned my camera (moved it horizontally) at the same speed and in the same direction that Rebecca was walking. This resulted in her head and torso being mostly sharp. But since the background was not moving, it ended up blurry. This technique creates a sense of motion and helps the subject stand out from their surroundings (her blue dress helps too). And there's an added benefit in blurring a background. It can hide an intrusive or unpleasant area - for example, a parking lot behind a field where kids are playing soccer. Panning the camera along with a moving player, the photographer creates a blurred area behind them that may be almost unidentifiable. In this photograph, there was no need for hiding it; in fact, it is still identifiable despite being blurry. The girl's environment is appealing, and being able to identify what it is adds a sense of place to the image. The camera settings were 1/15 sec and f8. Occasionally, I’ll blur the entire image. Mentioning this to people often brings looks of bewilderment. I explain that the right amount of blur can produce a photograph that's both interesting and dynamic. It’s having too much blur (making the subject unrecognizable) or too little blur (making it look as if the photographer couldn't hold the camera steady enough) that causes problems. Properly done, the subject will still be identifiable, but rendered more diffuse, softer, and maybe slightly offbeat. You’ll have to experiment with various shutter speeds and camera movements to determine what the appropriate amount of blur is. A relatively long shutter speed usually is enough to produce an effective blur. If more blur is needed, an even longer shutter speed or slight movement of the camera up and down, side to side, or in a circular movement while shooting should do the trick. Again, experimenting is key. In the photos below, each image has been intentionally blurred (their shutter speeds and f-stops are listed in the descriptions). In addition, most have been edited in post production.  Maggie is peering out of her kitchen’s screen door. I usually love color in my photographs, but sometimes it doesn't seem needed. I tried various degrees of saturation with this image and, for whatever reason, just a slight hint of color seemed to work best. The camera settings were 1/10 sec and f4.5.  I must have spent half an hour walking back and forth across this city street. I was trying to hide the fact that I was taking pictures by nonchalantly holding my camera on my chest as I continuously pressed the shutter button. The camera settings were 1/15 sec and f22.  I asked Danielle to bend slightly forward to help focus the viewer's attention on her lovely long hair. The camera settings were 2 secs and f5.6.  This is another photo where I followed the subject with my camera. Despite doing that, however, she's still a bit blurry, though less so than the background. There were two elements that attracted me to this location: being able to shoot downward from a high angle and the beauty of the building's floor. The camera settings were 1/8 sec and f8.  A very pregnant Tabitha is standing in front of her bedroom window. I love how that bit of hair dangles in front of her face. I purposely overexposed the background window to provide enough illumination for taking the photo and to blow out the background, thus hiding the unattractive parked cars outside. The camera settings were 1.5 secs and f5.6.  Serendipity plays a role in many of my favorite images. The subject was in the middle of turning around when I accidentally pressed the shutter button. He almost looks like he's dancing! The camera settings were 1/10 second and f5.6.  I was standing in the ocean, forgetting I had dinner plans with a friend and no other pants to change into. However, I really like how the slow shutter speed imparts a sensual feeling to the water and, therefore, to the image. The camera settings were 1/8 second and f25.  I took a bunch of shots, moving the cards in different directions and at different speeds. I think this one was the best. The camera settings were 1/6 second and f8. |
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