Motion Blur USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Motion Blur Motion blur refers to the streaking or smearing effect that occurs when moving subjects or camera motion is captured during a photographic exposure. Motion blur can occur intentionally or unintentionally and can add a sense of dynamism, speed, and energy to an image, or it can result in undesirable blurring and loss of detail. Intentional motion blur is often used creatively by photographers to convey a sense of movement or action, such as panning shots of moving subjects, long exposure shots of flowing water or traffic, or intentionally blurred backgrounds to isolate the subject.
Unintentional motion blur may occur when the camera is handheld at slow shutter speeds, when the subject moves unexpectedly during the exposure, or when the photographer fails to track moving subjects accurately. Techniques for minimizing motion blur include using faster shutter speeds, stabilizing the camera with a tripod or monopod, using image stabilization technology, and anticipating the movement of the subject to ensure sharp focus and clear detail in the final image.