A frozen racing car can look like it is parked. A blurred one can look like a smudge. Panning gives you the best of both: the car stays sharp while the background streaks behind it, and the photo shouts speed. It is one of the most exciting techniques in photography, and also one that takes practice. This lesson explains how panning works, the settings to start with, the body movement that makes it succeed, and how to fix the usual problems.
What is panning?
Panning is a technique where you move the camera to follow a moving subject during a slower-than-normal exposure. Because the camera moves at the same speed as the subject, the subject stays in the same place on the sensor and looks fairly sharp. The background, which the camera is sweeping past, smears into horizontal streaks.
Compare it with what you learned in motion blur and freezing movement:
| Approach | Camera | Shutter speed | Subject | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze | Still | Fast | Sharp | Sharp |
| Motion blur | Still (often on a tripod) | Slow | Blurred | Sharp |
| Panning | Moving with the subject | Slow-ish | Mostly sharp | Streaked |
Starting settings
| Setting | Starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Shutter Priority (S/Tv) or Manual | Shutter speed is the key control |
| Shutter speed | About 1/60 second | Slow enough to streak the background, fast enough to keep the subject reasonably sharp |
| Autofocus | Continuous AF (AF-C / AI Servo) | Keeps focus as the subject moves; see single and continuous autofocus |
| Drive mode | Continuous (burst) | More frames, more chances of a sharp one |
| Image stabilization | Panning mode, or a mode that ignores side-to-side motion, if your lens or camera has it | Reduces up-and-down shake while you sweep sideways |
Remember:These starting points are recommended by Canon, Tamron and many photography teachers. Once you are comfortable, try slower speeds like 1/30 or 1/15 for stronger streaks. For fast subjects, such as racing cars, around 1/125 or faster may still give plenty of blur because the background flies past so quickly.
The body movement
Panning success comes more from smooth body movement than from settings. Think of it like a golf swing:
- Plant your feet about shoulder-width apart, facing the spot where you want to take the photo.
- Twist from your waist toward where the subject is coming from. Keep your feet still; only your upper body turns.
- Pick up the subject early and follow it smoothly in the viewfinder, half-pressing to start continuous focus.
- Start shooting a burst a little before the subject reaches your chosen spot.
- Keep following through after you stop shooting. Stopping your movement at the moment you press the button is the most common cause of failed pans.
Tip:Hold the camera with the strong grip from how to hold a camera: elbows in, camera against your face. A monopod can help keep the movement level.
What makes a good panning photo
- A subject moving across the frame, side to side, at a steady speed. Subjects coming toward you are much harder.
- A background with detail and color, such as trees, signs or a crowd. A plain wall or sky gives no visible streaks.
- The most important part sharp, usually a face, a rider's helmet or the front of a car.
- Space in front of the subject, so it has room to "move into" the frame.
Expect a low success rate at first. Even experienced photographers take many frames to get one perfect pan, especially at slow shutter speeds. That is normal.
Troubleshooting panning
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Background is not blurred enough | Shutter speed too fast | Slow down, e.g. from 1/125 to 1/60 |
| Subject is blurred too | Shutter too slow for your skill, or uneven movement | Speed up a little, and pan more smoothly |
| Up-and-down blur | Camera moving vertically during the pan | Keep the movement level; try a monopod or panning stabilization |
| Photo too bright at slow shutter speed in daylight | Too much light | Lower ISO, close the aperture, or use an ND filter, see neutral-density filters |
| Subject sharp in some frames only | Normal for panning | Shoot longer bursts and pick the best |
Common mistakes
- Stopping the pan when pressing the button: follow through like a golf swing.
- Starting too slow: begin at around 1/60 and slow down as your skill improves.
- Using single-shot autofocus: focus locks while the subject moves on.
- Choosing a plain background: streaks need detail to show.
How professionals pan
Motorsport, cycling and wildlife photographers practise panning constantly. They choose a spot where the subject passes side-on, with a colorful background. They warm up with a few passes at a faster shutter speed, then slow down once their timing is smooth. They shoot long bursts and accept that many frames will be discarded, because the keepers show speed in a way a frozen photo never can.
Practical examples
A cyclist on a city street
- Situation
- At 1/500, the passing cyclist looks frozen and the busy street behind looks just as sharp.
- What to do
- You set 1/40, continuous AF and burst, plant your feet and follow the cyclist from left to right, shooting through the middle of the pass.
- Why it works
- A slower shutter while moving with the rider keeps them steady on the sensor while the street sweeps past.
- Result
- A sharp rider against colorful horizontal streaks of shops and lights.
A dog running along a beach
- Situation
- Your panned photos show the dog blurred along with the background.
- What to do
- You raise the shutter speed from 1/30 to 1/80 and concentrate on a smooth, steady twist.
- Why it works
- At 1/30, small differences between your movement and the dog's are recorded as blur; a faster speed is more forgiving while you learn.
- Result
- A sharper dog with softly streaked sand and sea behind it.
Key points
- Panning means following a moving subject with the camera during a slower exposure.
- Start at around 1/60 in Shutter Priority, with continuous AF and burst shooting.
- Plant your feet, twist from the waist, and follow through after the shot.
- Choose subjects moving across the frame and backgrounds with detail.
- Expect many misses; shoot bursts and slow down gradually as you improve.
Frequently asked questions
What is panning in photography?
What shutter speed should I use for panning?
Why is my subject blurry when panning?
Do I need image stabilization for panning?
Conclusion
Panning combines a slower shutter speed with smooth movement to create a sharp subject and a streaked background, the classic look of speed. Start at around 1/60, move from the waist, follow through, and shoot plenty of frames. Next, you will learn how to diagnose and fix focus problems when photos are not as sharp as expected.
Finished reading? Track your progress through Focus and depth of field.