Blurred of a feather

James Paterson conveys the motion of wildlife with beautiful blurs

- James Paterson

THE MISSION

Shoot intentional motion blur in wildlife photos using camera and panning techniques

Time needed Two hours

Skill Level Intermediate

Kit needed

• Long lens

• Tripod

• Gimbal head (optional)

In wildlife photography the desire is usually to capture animals that are pin-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 (for more inspiration by Ben, see page 28, and check out www.benhallphotography.com). 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 legible shapes. The results can be stunning. Sure, things won’t be tack sharp, but in its place you get a wonderful sense of speed and motion.