Capturing motion is a beautiful way to convey a story in a photograph, sometimes even more so than a photo of the same subject in a stationary pose. Some situations lend themselves to “action” photography; sports, dance, the wind gusting through trees on a stormy evening, but anything that can move is a candidate for these types of shots. Some people even capture the movement of our planet by photographing star trails!
Freezing movement in a photograph generally requires a fast shutter speed (a high number on your camera) and plenty of light, but virtually any conditions can yield interesting movement photographs. This tutorial has a very nice overview of the different strategies for photographing moving subjects, and may be a great source of inspiration.
The photo I’ve shared was taken at a beach luau in Kauai, Hawaii. It was already dark, and on a windy beach. I used a high ISO and fast shutter speed, and was able to forever freeze the rustling sway of the dancers’ skirts and pom-poms. When I look at this photo, I feel the thump of the drums in my chest and recall the seaside breeze blowing my hair. I feel the movement, and I feel the moment.
“Movement” by Jen Hooks
This week, share your photographs that have captured motion, and tell us the stories behind the images.
