Motorbikes in motion

THE MISSION

Capture sharp subjects and slick motion blur shots

Time needed

Two hours

Skill level

Advanced

Kit needed

• Telephoto

• Monopod or tripod (optional)

Many of the best motor sport photos have one thing in common: a sense of speed. We’re taught that fast shutter speeds will freeze moments of action, so why would the high-octane energy of motor sport be any different?

At a shutter speed of 1/3200 sec you can capture a crisp shot of a motorbike zooming round a circuit. But you’ll also freeze the background and wheels, removing any indication of motion. For all the viewer knows, your subject was stationary on a racetrack. To retain a sense of motion, you need to shoot at a much slower shutter speed. The