Mastering Surfer Motion in Surf Photography Panning Shots
Introduction:
Today, we’ll discuss the most challenging of the three ocean panning options—the challenge of capturing the motion of a surfer riding a wave. Our goal is to showcase the fluid movement of both the wave and the surfer, while ensuring the surfer remains as sharp and in focus as possible.
The Art of Panning: Matching the Surfer's Pace
Panning shots of surfers riding waves require precise coordination between your camera's panning motion and the surfer's movements. By focusing on the moving subject and panning at the same speed, you can keep the surfer sharp while creating a beautiful motion blur in the background. Think about those amazing shots of racing cars or jet boats—the subject stays sharp while the surroundings blur. However, capturing surfers presents an additional challenge, as they don't always move in a straight line. This makes the shot more difficult, requiring practice and adaptability. As with the panning waves technique trial this method with a shutter speed of around 1/20th or 1/30th second. As you are learning you could practice with a shutter speed as fast as 1/60th of a second, however I find the 1/20th -1/30th creates the most aesthetic motion blur of the background or wave the surfer is riding.
Practicing with Long Boarders: Finding Your Rhythm
A great way to begin mastering the art of surfer motion panning is by practicing at a small surf break with long boarders. These surfers tend to ride in a straighter and slower manner across the wave, making it easier to synchronize your panning motion with their movements. With practice, you'll gain a better understanding of the technique, allowing you to try it out with more dynamic short board surfing.
Navigating Turns and Direction Changes: Embracing the Learning Process
Once you've honed your skills with long boarders, it's time to challenge yourself further by capturing short board surfers on bigger waves. This introduces the added complexity of turns and direction changes. Be prepared for a higher rate of unusable shots, as predicting the perfect split-second moment becomes more challenging. Remember, the key is to shoot in continuous mode, capturing a series of shots of the same wave. Don't worry if the first few shots don't meet your expectations. Instead, maintain focus on the surfer, smoothly pan your camera, and hold down the shutter to capture a continuous burst of shots. Often, it's the 3rd, 4th, or 5th shot in the sequence that perfectly captures the moment where the pan aligns with the surfer's smooth, straight movement.
Discovering the Optimal Panning Speed: Embrace the Slowness
A crucial lesson to learn early on in your attempts is that the correct panning speed is likely much slower than your initial expectations. Embrace the slowness, focus on developing a smooth and controlled panning motion, and adjust your speed accordingly. With each attempt, you'll gain a better feel for the optimal panning speed, ensuring a higher chance of capturing a keeper.
Conclusion:
By refining your panning technique and adapting to the unpredictability of surfers' movements, you'll unlock the potential for epic images. Begin by practicing with long boarders, gradually navigating the intricacies of turns and direction changes with short board surfers. Embrace continuous mode, capturing a series of shots to increase your chances of capturing the perfect moment. Remember, the correct panning speed may surprise you, so slow down, refine your motion, and let your lens follow the surfer's path. With each session, you'll enhance your understanding of this challenging technique and increase your keeper rate.
