HOLD STILL! – Wait Actually Don't, Move Around Instead

Continuing my research this week and thinking about what a lesson would look like.
Below, I have laid out the assignment. I wanted to keep it fairly simple as not to overwhelm with lots of visuals and a few simple tips and tricks.

Assignment: Movement/The Decisive Moment

This week let’s capture movement or what’s known in the photographic world as “The Decisive Moment”; the perfect second to press the shutter.

When photographing movement, use the following tips:

What Makes A Good Moving Subject?
People are an obvious option (walking, running, cycling, jumping, dancing, swimming, etc.), animals (pets, birds etc.), vehicles, moving water, rain or something caught in the wind.

Sharp or Blurred
When photographing movement, you will either get a sharp focus or blurred image. Bright light and slower movement will result in a sharp focus, whereas lower light and super-fast movement will result in a blur. Try both techniques. You can install and use the free app Slow Shutter Cam if you want really want to play with long exposures. This app allows you to shoot a 4 second exposure for example and has the ability to edit the movement after you have photographed it.

Use Burst Mode
When capturing movement it’s best to use the burst mode feature in the camera app (see video). Just hold down the shutter release button on the screen to capture a series of shots. You can then choose the best shot from the sequence.

Edit your Image
Smartphones have robust editing function for images. On an iPhone, tap “Edit” on the top right corner to play with exposure, contrast, warmth, shadows etc.

The samples above are from contemporary and historic artists who primarily photograph movement. Use these links to see more of their work:
Carli Davidson
Henri Cartier-Bresson – the pioneer of street photography and artist who coined the term “The Decisive Moment”
Harold Eugene Edgerton Can’t wait to see your images!