Panning Canada - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Panning Panning is a photographic technique used to capture moving subjects while conveying a sense of motion and speed. In panning, the photographer tracks the movement of a subject horizontally or vertically by swiveling the camera along with the subject's motion while using a slower shutter speed. By following the subject with the camera during the exposure, the subject remains relatively sharp and in focus, while the background and surrounding elements blur due to the camera's movement.
Panning requires a combination of smooth camera movement, precise timing, and coordination with the subject's motion to achieve the desired effect. Common applications of panning include sports photography, wildlife photography, and action photography, where capturing dynamic movement and conveying a sense of speed are essential. To master the panning technique, photographers may need to practice timing their movements, adjusting shutter speeds, and experimenting with different tracking techniques to achieve sharp, well-composed images with a sense of fluid motion.