How do I make the background have movement

[Sarah McDonald]

but keep my subject in focus when shooting straight ahead? (i.e. not panning across the shot)

I have a shot in my head that I want to bring to life but after experimenting today I'm not sure if it can be done without some sort of special equipment OR maybe a photoshop thing?

I want to have my main subject clear in the centre of the photo moving away from me - like a person running, byt have lots of movement in the background, like it's wizzing past. Kind of like if you took a shot of the steering wheel in your car while it was moving.

I experimented with shutter speed today and tried to move forward at the same speed as my subject, like I would if I was panning but it didn't work, the camera had too much movement. Any ideas, or photoshop solutions?

[Nicole Campbell]

Hi Sarah - this website has lots of tips and you might be able to find the answer to your question here - http://digital-photography-school.com/. Good luck, Nic

[Janelle]

I think you are talking about zooming with your lens while you take the shot with a slowish exposure? Something like this?

[Janelle]

I think that if this is what you are after, you would keep yourself still and get your subject to move and then you zoom in or out with your lens. I think with this one, I zoomed in. I have a 17 - 85mm lens that I used for this.

[Janelle]

Hmm, maybe not? Now I am confused.....

[Paula x2 Brumbe]

panning is usually a sideways view and consist of you following the object in motion at the same speed.

Zooming is having the object stand still and changing the focal length on your lense to give a sense of movement to the surroundings.

[Paula x2 Brumbe]

also I think photo shop has a layer for zooming

[Sarah McDonald]

@stuckinoz Thanks Janelle, have done this with lights but never in the day - will try it out tomorrow and see how it turns out

@brumbe thanks Paula, will try out the zoom tomorrow and check out the photoshop layer - thanks

@nicolecampbell - thanks! I love that site too

[☮Lee Gordon☮]

think this might be what you are looking for
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/action-zoom/

you can change the type of blur to create different effects too

[Sarah McDonald]

@asrai that's it! Thank you!

[Stacey]

This was totally done in Photoshop elements 10. There is an action you can use to create this look, and keep the subject clear. If you don't have a photo processing tool such as this, well then, listen to what the others were saying Lol..

[Sarah McDonald]

@newbie Thaks Stacey - do you remember what the action was called? Photoshop and I are on shaky ground lol. That is an awesome shot BTW

[Sharon]

@newbie Hi Stacey. Do you purchase this action from somewhere? Do you happen to know the name?
Cool effect!

[Stacey]

@saranna @twinsplusone Yes Sharon / Sara this is already in PSE 10 if you go to the filters tab in full edit, then scroll down to where it says blur, click on it and it will give you a list of blur tools, it is called motion blur. I think picnik (which is a free editing tool but to close down on April 16th I believe) has this tool also.

[Flagged]

@saranna This image was done by doing what you are thinking of, its not as extreme in this image as the second but by setting focus on your subject and zooming you get a sharp subject with motion blur background.
First image on sand so not that effective but still worked.



Extreme version, set focus then zoom as you fire shutter off.



Both done with camera only. Hope this helps

[Janelle]

Sarah, There's an effect on picnik that does the same thing. Maybe easier then Photoshop, if you're not on good terms with photoshop

[Paul Myers]

Focused on the flower, zoomed in while using a half second shutter speed.