Mastering Smooth Pan Shots: Tips And Techniques For Filmmakers

Panning is a cinematography and photography technique that creates a beautiful streaked blur by moving the camera as you press the shutter button. The most common type of panning is side-to-side, but you can also pan up and down or diagonally. Panning is often used to capture moving subjects, such as cars, bikers, or joggers, and can convey a sense of motion and energy in your photos or videos.

To achieve a smooth pan, there are several factors to consider, including lens length, shutter speed, resolution, and panning angle. For example, if you're shooting on a 35mm lens at 24p on a Super 35mm camera and want to capture a 45-degree panning angle, you'll need to take at least 8 seconds to pan across your shot without introducing jitter.

Additionally, the right shutter speed is crucial and depends on the speed of your subject. For fast-moving subjects like cars, a shutter speed of around 1/125 is ideal, while slower subjects may require a shutter speed of one-eighth of a second.

Practising your panning technique and experimenting with different lenses and shutter speeds will help you master the art of smooth panning and create stunning visual results.

Use a tripod or camera strap

Using a tripod or a camera strap is a great way to achieve smooth pan shots. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Tripod Techniques:

If you're using a tripod, it's important to choose the right type of tripod head. A pan-and-tilt tripod head is ideal for smooth panning motions and can be used for both video and still images. When attaching your camera to the tripod, use a quick-release plate for convenience. To achieve even smoother pans, consider extending the panning handle by adding a metal or plastic pipe. This will give you extra leverage and make it easier to control your movement. Additionally, locking off the tripod's horizontal axis can help when panning vertically for smoother long exposure abstracts.

Camera Strap Stability:

If you're shooting handheld, a camera strap can be a game-changer for smooth pan shots. Place the strap around your neck and stretch it taut. Position your arms and elbows close to your chest and belly, and try to avoid breathing while panning to minimize camera shake. Combining this technique with slow motion can create a more appealing pan.

Other Stabilization Techniques:

In addition to using a tripod or camera strap, there are other stabilization techniques you can explore. For example, using a camera with built-in stabilization or a lens with IS (Image Stabilization) can help reduce unwanted camera jitters. Keeping your body steady by maintaining three points of contact (two hands and an eyepiece) can also improve stability.

Practice and Experimentation:

Achieving smooth pan shots takes practice and experimentation. Don't be afraid to try different techniques and equipment to find what works best for you. With enough patience and persistence, you'll be able to capture those super smooth pan shots you're aiming for.

Adjust shutter speed

Adjusting the shutter speed is a crucial aspect of achieving smooth pan shots. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to help you master this technique:

Understanding Shutter Speed

The shutter speed controls the duration of time that the camera's shutter remains open, allowing light to reach the sensor and capture an image. In panning photography, a slow shutter speed is typically used to create motion blur in the background while keeping the subject sharp and in focus. This technique adds a sense of movement and drama to your images.

Choosing the Right Shutter Speed

The ideal shutter speed depends on the speed of your subject. For fast-moving subjects, such as cars, a shutter speed of around 1/125 is recommended. For slower-moving subjects, you may need a shutter speed of around 1/8 of a second. If your subject is moving at a moderate pace, a shutter speed of 1/60 is a good starting point. However, you may need to experiment and adjust the shutter speed based on the desired amount of blur and the speed of your subject.

Shutter Priority Mode

To focus solely on adjusting the shutter speed, enable Shutter Priority mode on your camera. This mode allows you to select the shutter speed while the camera automatically adjusts the aperture and ISO values based on lighting conditions. Shutter Priority mode is a helpful feature when you want to prioritise adjusting the shutter speed to achieve the desired motion blur effect.

Adjusting for Different Subjects

When panning, the shutter speed will vary depending on the speed of your subject. For example, a racing car will likely require a faster shutter speed than a cyclist to prevent it from becoming a complete blur. If you're capturing fast-moving subjects, you may need to increase the shutter speed to freeze the action and maintain a sharp focus. On the other hand, slower-moving subjects may require a slower shutter speed to achieve the desired motion blur effect.

Panning Technique

While adjusting the shutter speed is important, it's also crucial to master the physical act of panning. Smooth manual panning can be achieved by initiating and completing the pan smoothly and continuously. This may involve using a longer handle on the tripod head to extend your hand motion, optimising tension to minimise sticking and skipping, or even using automated panning devices for more precise control. Practice your panning technique to ensure smooth and stable movements.

Frame Rate and Shutter Angle

The frame rate and shutter angle can also impact the appearance of your pan shots. Capturing at a higher frame rate, such as 48 or 60 fps, can help smooth out high-frequency camera movements, especially when played back at a slower speed. The shutter angle controls the balance between stuttered and blurred panning. Larger angles result in smoother but more smeared panning, while smaller angles create crisper but choppier panning. Experiment with different shutter angles to achieve the desired effect.

Remember that achieving smooth pan shots requires a combination of the right shutter speed, panning technique, frame rate, and shutter angle. Practice and experimentation are key to mastering this technique and creating stunning visual effects in your photography or videography.

Use burst or continuous shoot mode

Burst or continuous shooting mode is a must-use when trying to get a smooth pan shot. This is because the more shots you take, the more likely you are to capture a great image. Before you start panning, switch your camera from its single-shot mode to its continuous shooting mode. Then, when it's time to shoot, hold down the shutter button and keep it held down as you pan and until your subject has moved away. Your camera will take multiple shots, giving you plenty of files to sort through, and some of them will hopefully look good.

Using burst mode will also prevent you from needing to tap repeatedly on the shutter button, thus keeping camera shake to a minimum.

If you're using a camera strap, put it over your neck and stretch it. While doing this, have your arms/elbows lying on your chest and belly, and don't breathe while panning.

If you're shooting in slow motion, this will generally create a more appealing pan when shooting handheld.

Keep your distance

Keeping your distance from the subject is essential for achieving a smooth pan shot. This is because the farther the subject is from you, the slower it will appear to be moving, making it easier to stay with them during your pan. This distance will also affect your lens choice. Attempting to pan a sprinter from a spot near the track with a 50mm lens, for instance, will be challenging. It is better to get farther away, perhaps up in the grandstand, and use a 70-200mm lens. This will make the subject appear to be moving slower, and thus easier to pan.

It is also important to position yourself correctly in relation to the subject. The subject should be moving adjacent to your position, not directly towards or away from you. If the subject runs directly at your camera, you won't have the opportunity to move your setup and use the pan technique – the subject will just turn out blurry. You also need to keep some distance between your camera and the moving subject to give your lens enough space to focus. If you're too close, your lens may struggle to focus, and it will be harder to keep the subject in the frame. Take a step or two back, and make sure you have enough space to capture a great shot.

Distance also comes into play when using flash. The slow sync flash technique will only work if the subject is close enough and your flash is powerful enough to have an impact, so make sure you get reasonably close.

Finally, the distance between you and the subject, along with the speed of the subject, will determine the ideal shutter speed for your shot. The ideal shutter speed depends on a number of factors, including how fast your subject is moving, the distance between you and the subject, the lens you are using, and how much of a blur effect you want to achieve.

Use autofocus or manual focus

When it comes to achieving a smooth pan shot, the focus mode you choose will depend on the specifics of your shot. Autofocus and manual focus each have their own advantages and are suited to different scenarios.

Autofocus

Autofocus is a good choice if you are a beginner to panning photography or if you cannot predict the distance of the subject from the camera. It is also useful when your subject is moving in unpredictable ways. By using your camera's continuous focusing mode (AF-C on Nikon and Sony, AI-Servo on Canon), you can ensure that your camera maintains focus on the subject as it moves across the frame. Start focusing on the subject when it is in the distance, and keep the centre focus point on the subject as you pan along.

Manual Focus

If you are sure of the distance at which your subject will pass, for example, if you know a car will drive down a particular lane, then manual focus is a good option. Identify the point where your subject will be and focus on that in advance. You won't need to worry about maintaining focus—simply pan your camera and take a series of photos as the subject moves by.

Other Factors to Consider

The focus mode you choose will also depend on the lens you are using. Some lenses come with image stabilization specifically designed for panning. Additionally, the speed of your subject will influence your choice of focus mode. Faster-moving subjects will require faster shutter speeds, while slower subjects will need slower shutter speeds.

Experimenting with different focus modes and shutter speeds will help you find the best combination for your specific shot.

Frequently asked questions