Beyond the Frame 12/
Slow shutter-speeds at Mumbai Railway Station and an essential Lightroom Identity Plate hack.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(Mumbai Railway Station)
On assignment in India, I was photographing Mumbai Railway Station, one of the busiest railway stations in India.
As part of the photo essay, I wanted to make at least one image showing passengers framed in the open doorway of a moving carriage.
Trains are constantly arriving and leaving. Doors that close are considered an inconvenience on many trains in India. Consequently, people standing in the doorways are clearly visible and I like the combination of passengers, relatively sharp, against the movement of the train carriages.
Panning
With a slow shutter speed, I “pan” the camera from side-to-side during the exposure. The aim is to match the speed of the train. When you get it right, the subject will render sharply against a blurred background.
It’s not an easy skill to master but practice makes perfect and I’ve developed some useful techniques.
I position my feet towards the direction that I want to end the panning movement. My body then naturally swings back to facing “forward” and I’m not pushing myself to twist awkwardly.
I’ve tried setting the camera to take multiple, fast frames in quick succession. This rarely works. For me, it’s more effective to make one frame for each panning movement.
Like any good tennis or cricket coach will teach you, the follow-through is crucial. The movement must be one smooth swivel. Don’t stop when you press the shutter.
Practice without pressing the shutter. Because our instinct is to try and keep the camera as still as possible, it’s natural to stop. I make a few “practice swings” without releasing the shutter, which helps override that instinct.
Camera Settings
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