This is a small collection of panning shots.

Panning is a technique where you use a slow shutter speed - typically something like 1/25th or 1/30th of a second - and then turn with the subject while clicking the shutter. The idea is to blur the background while keeping the subject as sharp as possible. This separates the subject from the background, and if done properly you can get an almost 3-D effect.

Olympus E-M1MarkII, 1/30s f/18.0 ISO64 33mm

1/30th of a second is a good starting point for these shots. The effect is more pronounced if you use a slower speed but it's more difficult to keep the subject sharp.

Olympus E-M5MarkII, 1/25s f/0.0 ISO200 0.00 mm

Above: This one is interesting... notice f/0.0 and 0mm? That means I was using one of my Nikon prime lenses on an adapter with my Olympus camera. In this mode the camera cannot record the lens specs, and you have to focus manually. I used a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens for this shot and prefocused roughly on the middle of the lane while waiting for something interesting to come along.

Olympus E-M1 MarkII, 1/25s f/7.1 ISO200 30mm

These shots are easier if the subject is moving quickly. To capture bicycles, it's a good idea to be near the bottom of a hill where the cyclist will be going fast.

Olympus E-M5 MarkII, 1/25s f/9.0 ISO200 17mm

For a slightly different effect, try capturing the vehicle from an angle as it is still approaching. Now the area in focus will become very small. In the example above, only the driver door and mirror is in focus. This is more interesting if you capture the driver's face looking out of the blur... for this reason, I always try to put the focus point on the face. Unfortunately, you can't see a face in this example.

Olympus E-M1MarkII, 1/25s f/20.0 ISO200 22mm

Panning is one of my favourite techniques but my success rate is very low. I might get 5% keepers on average and the rest of them are immediately deleted. I haven't been practicing this lately because the last time I tried, I took a shot of a passing truck and the driver stopped his truck and came over and threatened me. The moral of that story? Bring a bodyguard or use a long lens and stand far away!

This is my entry to the Monomad Photography Challenge by @brumest and @monochromes. All photos are by me, @keithboone. Thanks for visiting!