Action

In taking action photos there are different methods and reasons why a picture of someone running can turn out blurred or as a perfectly still image.

Panning: A technique where the camera is moved to follow a moving subject, keeping it in the same position as shown in the viewfinder
-Panning is a helpful technique for action and once perfected, the main subject will appear sharp against a blurred background

An example of panning: the Camera was moving next to and in sync with the subject (the camera was in a car going somewhat close to the same speed) which helped the overall image not just a blurry mess but a fairly well focused image of a truck.

Truck with motion blur achieved by panning with a camera with a slow shutter speed

A good example of panning:


I found this description of a good way to practice panning:

Rotate at the hips for a smoother scroll.
Don't set your shutter speed to long.
Start from around 1/15 to 1/40 shutter speed and experiment.
Make sure you only go in one direction. left to right.. up to down.. don't try to go left to right and up to down at the same time!

Blurred action:
A camera's purpose is to "capture" a moment in time. This isn't exactly possible when an image is moving. The shutter speed determines the actual "timeline" of moments captured into one outcoming image whether it's blurred or in focus.


Stopped Action: a form of animation that allows otherwise lifeless objects to move and change positions. Or also a photo of an action going on without the blurred imagery. A photo of a seemed actual moment in time!