Manually set your camera focus and adjust shutter speed and aperture size so the car stays in focus.
If you'd like to get a clear, quality shot of a race car event, or you'd like to take some artful pictures in the city, chances are you'll have to photograph a moving car---perhaps very quickly. If you're not using a digital camera, the requirements for shutter speed and aperture/ISO settings still apply, but you'll have to adjust them manually per your camera's instruction manual.
Instructions
1. Choose a shooting area where you'll have a shot of a slower moving vehicle, preferably turning a corner. This slow speed allows you to capture the moment with reduced motion blur, and the motion of the car turning makes for a more interesting photo.
2. Turn off you camera's "auto" mode. Even in higher-end cameras, this setting will probably not capture the quickly moving vehicle as well as you'd like.
3. Set your camera to a fast shutter speed. Experiment with 1/500th of a second, then test how your photos change when you speed it up or slow it down.
4. Open your aperture and increase the camera's ISO. This allows for more light in your photos. If it's too bright, lower them a bit.
5. Move the camera along with the car when it drives by. This is called panning and creates an interesting motion blur in the background. When the car gets to a place you want to photograph, hit the shutter button, continuing to pan even after you hit the shutter button.
6. Preview your photo. Adjust shutter speed to increase or decrease the motion blur in the background until you're happy with the results.
7. Shoot as many photos as possible with a variety of shutter speeds and aperture/ISO settings.
8. Practice panning often to improve your skill. Find a busy street corner and shoot away.
Tags: shutter speed, motion blur, your camera, aperture settings, blur background, motion blur background, moving vehicle