How to Pan in Photography

Photographic pan produces interesting results.

Learning to pan is a great way to take your photography skills to the next level. Photographic pan is a technique that is used for objects that are traveling in a straight line. The camera moves from left to right or right to left as it follows the subject which is moving at the same speed. Panning produces a very interesting effect which causes the subject to stay in focus while the background is blurred. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to create great pan shots.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Tripod

1. Choose a subject. The object or subject of your photo must be in motion in order to create the pan effect. Subjects like moving cars, roller coasters and marathon runners make great pan shots.

2. Designate a focus point. Pick a focus point to determine when you will take the photo as you pan. It could be as the subject passes a certain object, like a tree or road sign for example.

3. Set the shutter speed. To focus on a moving object you must use a very slow shutter speed. For example, a good shutter speed for a marathon runner would be 1/30 of a second. Adjust the shutter speed as necessary for objects that are moving faster or slower.

4. Set up your tripod. Use a tripod to keep your camera level while panning. Simply rotate the camera left or right to pan with a tripod. If you don't use a tripod, and your hand is not steady, you will produce a vertical blur and ruin the shot.

5. Take your shot. When you see the subject coming, hold your shutter down half way and follow the movement of the subject. Lock your feet, swivel with your upper body, then hit the shutter when the subject reaches your focus point. Always follow through and keep your movements smooth to produce the best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Panning in photography is an art. Experiment to find what works best for you. Keep practicing and your photos will improve over time.