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Motion photography means many things. I know photographers use it to convey a sense of action or even to help isolate a subject. Perhaps I’m a bit odd because I use it to take a subject’s mind off the fact that she’s being photographed.
Captivating Viewers With Motion Photography
There’s no doubt that many people find motion photography enticing just for the sake of motion. It implies speed, activity, and other ideas that we just don’t expect from a still photo. It also gives us a chance to see something that our eye can’t catch, l like this shot of the Dumbo ride at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
You’d think that elephant was flying so fast that the whole ride would lift up like a helicopter. Motion photography offers us illusions that are out of the ordinary, from cotton-candy waterfalls to supersonic elephants.
Sometimes we use motion to fill in the blanks. Imagine this scene of Las Vegas if all the cars appeared to be parked on the road. Motion gives the scene a sense of vibrant activity.
Using Motion As A Distraction
To be perfectly honest, I cheat. I’m not using motion in photographs to convey a sense of action, even though I do like that in the result. I’m trying to ask models to move because it makes the interaction easier for me as a photographer.
Maybe I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. I’m an introvert. I have a hard time being a lively person on the set, being engaging, and creating the kind of atmosphere you’d see if Austin Powers was the photographer. It just ain’t me.
Just think how you would feel if your photographer didn’t say much during a photoshoot. It would be perfectly normal to think he’s not liking what he’s seeing, so it must be your fault. That isn’t what’s going through my head, but it could really put off the person who has this big lens pointing in her direction. Good, upbeat communication is really essential.
Photography is fun for me, and I think it ought to be fun for anyone kind enough to step in front of my camera. So what can an introvert do to make things fun without being too goofy or too creepy?
I ask them to move. To run, jump…to do something expressive. So far, it’s worked for me. The dynamic of the session changes. Now it’s something that can be both playful and artistic. Most of the models who agree end up having fun, and they also think about how they want to reveal part of their personality in motion.
Something I’ve discovered is that we spend less time trying to coach a pose or an expression and more time capturing energy and attitude. It depends upon the person. Some models become very athletic or graceful, or even just playful. Whatever is inside of them ultimately reveals itself on their expression with some simple movement.
This style won’t work for every situation, of course. Sometimes I get shots that I like, and other times it’s just a way to loosen up and get comfortable shooting together before we move on to something else. It’s definitely becoming an element of style that I enjoy.
