HOW i SHOT THiS

Two people running, on the beach, blurred motion
  • afternoon
  • Mid range
  • Unposed
  • Soft Light
  • running
  • Playful
  • off center
  • Natural Light
  • Natural
  • Movement
  • Motion Blur
  • Moody
  • medium distance
  • Beach
  • Laughing
  • holding hands
  • Fun
  • Evening
  • Energetic
  • dark skin
  • cloudy sky
  • Cloudy
  • broken rules
  • blurry
  • black couple
  • Warm Tones

The story behind the image

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This was an elopement style-shoot with a real couple due to be wed in the next couple of months, it certainly proved to communicate raw intimacy and love throughout. This shot was mid-shoot where I normally find the energy, of both photographer and clients, to mirror one another at its peak. Both are into the “groove” and the energy levels are high. It’s the perfect opportunity to request that they run down the beach, barefoot, hand in hand with me running alongside. The couple’s energy naturally radiated movement and I really wanted this to transcend through the imagery.
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Directions

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

Coupled with the fact that I wanted my couple to stay warm, and to also capture their natural energy, I asked them how they would feel about running across the shoreline hand in hand and to end in the bride being picked up and spun around.

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What did you say?

Hand in hand, I want you to run – not too fast – across the shoreline. Please engage in each other’s eyes and laughter as you do this! When you have reached “this point” T to pick up M and spin around.

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Two people running, on the beach, blurred motion

Composition

The framing of this image I would describe as intentionally cropped. I wanted it to be known and obvious to the eye that it was shot during movement – from both the subject and myself. I wanted it to speak volumes of the beauty at the moment that could simply not be held tack sharp, or perfectly composed, for the frame but rather to express how wonderful, blurry and beautiful all the moments of life can be.

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Focusing

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

Out-of-focus shots, although arguably ‘easier to nail than tack-sharp focus, still need to be readable as you don’t want to blur too much that you can’t tell what is actually going on (unless of course, that is the intention). I shot with a shutter speed of 1/20 to capture this blur. Note that the couple was moving pretty quickly. If I would re-shoot this exact image I would try and play with having the shutter speed slightly faster perhaps 1/50 to see what that would capture in terms of blurred motion.

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Focus Mode

Single Shot Autofocus

Focus POints

Single Point

Focused on

Anywhere on the subject

Equipment &
Exif

Camera
Sony A7 III
Lens
Sigma 35mm f/1.4
Flash
None
Filter
None
1/20 @ f/13 ISO50 WB-Auto

The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:

Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.

Light & Weather

This was shot late afternoon and the sky was overcast, we did not have any golden hues or rays but we made the most of the dramatic clouds. The light was naturally diffused by the clouds so no harsh lighting.

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Light Type

Natural Light

Time of day

Afternoon

Weather

Cloudy

Editing Workflow

How did you edit this image?

I used ‘Archipelago’ Preset Nomad 01 and adjusted the white balance temperature to add warmth, bringing the tint slide down to cancel out some of the pinks and bring back the green tones. The contrast is taken right down to keep the image as soft as possible, same with texture. The highlights are also brought down to bring the detail/depth to the clouds.

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Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic

Challenges

The biggest challenge for motion blur with couples is probably getting the shutter where you want it to create the amount of blur you want with the pace of the movement you are presented with.

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Solutions

It definitely takes a couple of tries! So, it might be best to try it out on practice subjects first to then already have your “go to” settings in your head which you can then adjust according to your light situation real-time.

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Location

Location Name

Botany Bay

Location aDDRESS

Botany Bay, Margate

Loation Type

Beach / Coastal

Country

United Kingdom

Movement, running shots are best (from my own personal opinion) at the peak of everyone’s energy – I usually find this is the middle of the shoot. The beginning is loosening up and the end is usually more peaceful.

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