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Panning
   
Panning is the concept of moving the camera whilst capturing an image to add a sense of movement, this basic technique blurs the background and the wheels of the car, leaving just the car sharp. Two examples are shown below, the image on the left is a 'normal' shot of a car, the image on the right is a panning shot.
   

   
   
There are various methods of panning, but here are some basics to get you started, you will probably find you then adapt this to suit your own style….

 Setup

  1. Switch off your VR / IS / OS (all different terms for Image Stabilization) if you have it, as this will try and correct any movement. Some cameras/lens offer a 'Mode 2' which will only correct vertical movement and should work fine with panning shots, but if in doubt, turn it off.
  2. Set the shutter speed to 1/320 as an absolute maximum, any faster and you won’t get the blurred effect.
  3. Change the focus mode to “AF-C” (also known as ‘AI_Servo’, or whichever setting on your camera will continually re-focus as you pan) if possible, this will force the camera to continually refocus, important when a car is about to pass at 80mph.
  4. As a dry run track a car as it passes, find a good level of zoom so it fills the viewfinder nicely when in front of you.

Shooting

  1. Track the car through the viewfinder at the earliest possible opportunity
  2. Hold the shutter release down half-way to initiate focus
  3. Continue to track the car with the button half-pressed, the camera will continue to refocus
  4. Fully press the shutter release at the point where you want to capture the car
  5. Continue to track the car in a smooth movement

The most important thing is to ‘follow through’, there should be no pause or abrupt end once you have taken the shot, continue to pan smoothly and you are more likely to get the shot.

How far do you go with the shutter speed? Well that depends entirely on how successful you are with it, here are some examples, along with a very fast shutter speed to show what happens if you took a ‘normal’ photograph of a passing car…
   

1/1600 - no blurring of wheels or background, very easy

   
   

1/320 - slight blurring of wheels and background, reasonably easy

   
   

1/250 – good blur in wheels and background

   
   

1/160 - great balance of difficulty/result

   
   

1/80 – completely blurred wheels and background, difficult

   
   
There are many variables when it comes to panning, for example the speed of the car you are tracking makes a big difference to your end result, as does the focal length you need, panning is much easier when you only need 100mm, as apposed to 400mm, for example. The only way to learn is to practice, practice and then practice some more, there are no shortcuts when it comes to perfecting panning technique, even better cameras/lens make little difference to the end result.
   
 

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