
Street Photography Quick Tip 9 – Motion Blur
As you already might have learned from the last edition of my Instant Inspirations (“Instant Inspiration (15) – Long Exposure Waterscapes”) , recently I just love to play with longer shutter speeds and the effects you can generate with it. So with the ninth episode of my “Street Photography Quick Tips” I apply this technique to shooting everyday life in the streets. For more how-to and inspirational photos continue reading after the jump….

My Street Photography Quick Tips are short, easy to read and easy to use tips that I think could help you while shooting in the streets. Today’s post is about using longer exposure times to blur the motion of moving people or objects and create interesting effects in your photographs.
Setting up the camera is fairly easy. Start with a shutter speed of 1/6 seconds. This is the setting I find myself using most for my motion blur shots. It creates just enough movement that shows the dynamic of either a moving person or an object, but it is still short enough to leave enough clear texture that you can clearly distinguish what the moving subject/object was. And with most modern cameras that have some sorts of image stabilization it is short enough that the stationary scenery or objects of your photography is still sharp.

But varying the settings, playing with compositions and variations of moving subjects and stationary background or vice versa, shooting in monochrome or color really brings out the fun in using this technique when shooting in the streets.





I hope this collection of photos with both blurred people and objects gives you an idea of what to look for and what settings to use when shooting motion blur in the streets.
Have a great Friday!
Marcus
Related Posts:
Street Photography Quick Tip (8)
Street Photography Quick Tip (7)
Street Photography Quick Tip (6)
Street Photography Quick Tip (5)
Street Photography Quick Tip (4)
Street Photography Quick Tip (3)
Thanks for the tip. Nice work.
Great you like it, your visit and comment are highly appreciated! Marcus
I love this collection!
Thank you, your kind comment is much appreciated! Marcus
When I lived in NYC street photography was my favorite, it still holds a place in my heart. I loved bluring photos and snapping quickly as people walked by.
Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment, Nora! How awesome to have lived in NYC. For sure one of my most fave places!
Mine too!
Kamera bei allen Bildern stillgehalten !
Aha. Super erklärt. Trotzdem hab ich eine Frage: Also Kamera still gehalten und nicht “mitgezogen?
The first image looked very mysterious and ghostlike to me. Revealing a hint of something or leaving something for the imagination. Great shits and tips to inspire as always. Have a great weekend my friend. Hugs
Thanks so much 🙂
That Subway ghost is really captivating!!! Love it!
Thanks 🙂
I’ll give this a go, thank you for the tips.
Thanks, J, glad you find it helpful!
Did you notice that in the last picture it almost looks like as if the car is flying – maybe due to high speed? It looks like the tires are not touching the ground. That is fast! 😉
Have a nice weekend, Annett
Thanks, Annett, really appreciate you took the time to visit and comment. I was crouched down on the sidewalk while taking this photo, and I tell you it seemed the car flew buy 😉 ! You too have a wonderful weekend! Marcus
These are so cool! I learned more from this post than in an entire 3 hour photography lecture!
Wow, Justine, this is great feedback, and it means a lot, coming from an accomplished photographer like you. Thanks 🙂 And have a nice weekend! Marcus
I’ve just visited your blog and love the contents. Thank you for sharing this tip with us..
Thanks, Nurul, your kind words are so much appreciated. Just visited your blog as well and it is awesome! Glad to have connected 🙂 ! Marcus
ich finde das sehr interessant, denke mir dass das dann mit Stativ gemacht ist?
Danke für den Besuch, Monique! Alle diese Bilder sind aus der Hand fotografiert, bei keinem habe ich ein Stativ benutzt. Marcus
Danke Marcus der Antwort, und der Besuch hat mir Freude bereitet!
Marcus, as always, great tips and fabulous images. I’ve seldom seen better examples than these. Incredible. 😇📷
Thanks, Rob, this coming from you really means a lot! Have a great weekend! Marcus
You’re very kind, Marcus. Thank you. And you too. Best, Rob.
I like your article, very inspiring and thank you for your post
Thanks so much for your kind words! Marcus
Feine Sache! Müsste man mal öfter machen 🙂
Danke 🙂 Dafür sind die Tipps ja da!! Schönes Wochenende!