The Art of Motion Blur: How to balance sharpness and motion blur in your street photography

Would you like to create street photos that convey a sense of movement or energy, but struggle to find the balance between appropriate blur and sharpness? Capturing this balance can be tricky, but the use of this technique can be a powerful tool in realizing the idea of the image in your head. Today, we’ll take a dive into the technique of using motion blur to add impact to your images without sacrificing sharpness.

Should you go handheld or use a tripod?

In addition to your camera, some photographer’s next question is whether or not to bring a tripod. Personally, I believe that a street photography session should be a bit fluid. I would not bring a large tripod, but having a small travel tripod could come in handy depending on the type of blur you’re looking for.

Tripods can be extremely helpful in capturing a blurry subject against a sharp background or the motion blur of light trails at night.

To achieve these effects: 

• Attach your camera to the tripod

• Frame the shot

• Set the shutter speed to something slow like 1/25 or slower

• Use a timer or remote trigger to cut down on camera shake

This technique usually requires multiple shots before settling on something you enjoy. As an added tip for this technique, be sure to clean your camera’s sensor before taking these photos. The slower shutter speed usually allows the sensor to actually capture dust particles on the sensor of your photos. 

How to achieve a sharp subject and motion in the background?

Seeing the subject in the foreground as sharp and the background in motion blur creates a unique effect that feels as though a moment was actually frozen in time. This is the beauty of a panning shot. 

To achieve this effect:

• Hand hold the camera

• Find your frame

• Set the shutter speed to something slow like 1/25 

• Follow the subject with your camera as you click the shutter

• Move your camera at the same speed the subject is moving across your field of view

This technique can be difficult to master and is best practiced near a busy street. The easiest subjects to practice this technique on are cars, buses, cyclists, and motorcycle riders. These subjects are usually moving at a quick enough pace that will create amazing motion blur for your background.

Adding motion blur to your photos doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice sharpness. The addition of motion in your photos can help your images appear more dynamic and bring a level of energy and impact. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, go out and inject some motion blur into your next session!

I’d love to see the images you create. Tag me in your motion blurred photos - @ItsLarryG