How to create panning effects

The great advantage of digital photography and Photoshop is that no image is completely without value, and with a little post processing you can create a fascinating image from an otherwise uninspiring shot. In this tutorial we’ll take a simple snap of a cluster of treetops and, via the magic of the Radial Blur filter, transform in into a near abstract image, full of movement and graphic effect.

Although this effect can be achieved in the field by rotating the camera while using a slow shutter speed, the results can be unpredictable. With a little help from Photoshop, however, we’ve got far more control over the finished results…

1. Position the blur centre Open panning_start.jpg, go to Filter>Blur> Radial Blur. Position the blur centre shown in the Filters Preview pane towards the top of the image. Grab the centre where the direction lines converge and drag it upwards a little.

2. Radial blur settings Only use a small amount of blur here, so as not to distort the trees too much – drag the Amount slider to +6. Click on the Spin Radial button in the Blur Method section, and choose Best from the Quality options.

3. Apply and adjust Click OK to apply the Radial Blur filter. When the filter has completed, go to Image> Adjustments>Brightness and Contrast. Here we’ve increased the Contrast to +7 for a little more definition between the tress and the sky.