How to take a good panning shot

Have you ever wonder how to take a moving objects in focus with a blur background? Wish to achieve that kind of effect and add it into your collection? The technique that achieved this is known as panning. It is used in situation such as racing cars, moving bicycle, running people and etc. Panning shot is usually done from left to right or vice versa. It can be easily achieved if you have enough practiced. It is preferably to use SLR as they have fast response time.

Setting to be used:
1. Set your camera to shutter priority.
2. Set your shutter speed to be as low as possible preferably 1/15.
3. Set your camera to continuous shot. It preferably to have a high frame per second due to the fast moving object.
4. Set your focusing point to centre area.
5. Wait till the subject get into your left or right field of vision(Depending on which direction the subject move). Start depressing your shutter button when the subject is within your frame and follow the motion.

Keep in mind there are certain conditions in order to achieve a good panning:
1. The speed of the subject: If you are taking racing car, you have to use a high shutter speed (1/125th second, 1/60 seconds) to get the car in focus. Using a low shutter speed will result in both the car and the background blur. You will need to experiment with different shutter speed in order to achieve a good panning shot.
2. The subject to the background: If the distance from the subject to the background is long, the background will not blur as much. In this case, you can try to use photoshop to make the background blur.
3. Framing: Try to leave some space around the moving subject. This is to leave some allowance for you if you are too slow or too fast to follow the moving subject. If you managed to get a good panning shot, but the moving subject is either too left or too right, you can crop away any unnecessary space.

Don't be discouraged for the first time you get some bad shots. With enough practices, you will get a good panning shot of moving subjects.