Capturing movement will make your photos more dynamic, more exciting and altogether more interesting; giving the eye something to follow can stop an image seeming static and bring it to life. Movement can be found anywhere you choose – rolling landscapes and bustling cities rarely stay still for a second.
Atmosphere
Movement can be used to capture a still moment that would otherwise be lost. If one object or person is still while everything else is a blur of motion around them, a moment is created which gives your photo another layer of interest – what is so significant about that moment that makes someone stop completely while the world keeps moving? Is the atmosphere calm and content, worried or pensive?
Nature
The natural world stops for no one. It is a constant force of movement that we have always drawn on for inspiration, as it never stays the same for a second. Look for bodies of water and the different ways they can affect your photos. A wide, open lake or gentle stream will have a very different effect to thundering rivers and waterfalls.
Wildlife
Where there is water, there is life. Wildlife inevitable makes its home nearby, and natural spaces buzz with movement from insects and animals. A bird caught taking flight brings an energetic element to your photo, while the gentle ripples left on the surface of a lake by fish darting underneath will give it a more soothing and tranquil feel.
In a more urban landscape, pigeons taking off in a flurry of wings and feathers when a toddler charges in their direction brings both panic and humour and a more playful side of city life.
Wind
Wind creeps in everywhere and we’re rarely free of it for long. The bright side is it can create interesting situations for photographs! Wind is mischievous and this will come across in your photos if you pick the right moment. Imagine beach towel or picnic blanket being thrown out at just the wrong moment and sand or sandwiches flying everywhere.
Wind brings clouds, which can dramatically change the mood of a photo. Use the detail in the clouds to create a focal point and make it seem as though the expanse of sky is never ending. Grey clouds can appear to be looming in or swirling overhead preparing to storm – the sky has a mind of its own and can make your photo appear as though it’s coming to life.
Trees pulled by the wind, hair whipped around faces, leaves skittering in circles on the ground – wind creates movement everywhere it touches, but in its absence it also creates stillness. Photographing the aftermath of a strong wind or storm can tell the story of what has gone before, whether it’s flushed faces escaping the harsh weather or a landscape glittering after the rain.
