BLURS OF A FEATHER

James Paterson shows you how to convey the motion of wildlife with beautiful blur using simple camera skills

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2 HOURS

In wildlife photography the desire is usually to capture subjects that are tack-sharp, but what if we try a different approach and aim for something more abstract instead? This is a technique we learned from UK-based wildlife photographer Ben Hall. The trick is to lower your shutter speed just enough to blur the movement of the animals, while still retaining areas of relative sharpness and discernible shapes. The results can be stunning. Sure, things won’t be pin-sharp, but instead you get a wonderful sense of natural speed and motion in the image.

You could try this technique out on any wildlife, but it’s especially suited to bird photography. Birds are almost always on the move, especially those that love water. This poses a challenge in terms of focusing, framing and lens reach, but it’s worth it when you capture a moment that conveys the beauty of birds in motion. There are several approaches – we can either keep the camera still and blur the bird’s movement, or we can pan with the moving birds and blur the backdrop; or – and this is the most satisfying – we can aim to blur some parts of the animal, like the wings or heads, while keeping other areas relatively sharp. It takes time and patience to get a great shot, and you might fill up an entire memory card for just a handful of keepers – but if you manage to capture a cracker then it’s well worth the effort.

HOW TO GET SET UP TO CAPTURE MOTION BLUR

Choose your location, pack the right gear, and study your subjects