I’ve often featured panned photos on Tracking the Light. This is a technique my father taught me when I was relatively young, and I’ve been refining my approach ever since.

Panning is when the photographer moves the camera in parallel with a moving subject. If executed effectively, this can allow for a sharp subject against a motion-blurred background. It is an excellent way to show motion, while also minimizing a visually distracting background.

One of the tricks to executing a successful pan is to smoothly turn with your whole body, rather than just turning your head. It helps to begin panning long before your subject reaches exactly where you want it, and to continue the unbroken panning motion after you release the shutter.

A common mistake is stopping the panning action as you release the shutter. This will result in an unpleasant blur that doesn’t produce the desired effect. A similar problem will occur when using a comparatively slow shutter speed and pressing the shutter release with sufficient force to cause unplanned vertical motion. This, too, will negate the desired effect.

Practice helps. Pan various subjects in motion. I often pan birds, automobiles, freight cars, etc.

Below are a few views from the passage of Amtrak Keystone 658, where I panned the ACS-64 electric at the rear of the train. Shutter speed was 1/200th second.

Tracking the Light pans trains on the Move!