The Flow Of Harvest

Capturing the essence of motion in a still photograph usually requires learning to properly pan the camera in motion with the subject. Using a slow shutter speed blurs the background and works best if a small portion of the subject is blurred adding to the dynamic of the action.

Here the composition is dynamic, with the blurred movement of falling corn kernels contrasting sharply against the static, sharp lines of the metal grid on the auger transferring the crop from wagon to truck.

What works here is the use of a slower shutter speed to create motion blur, a technique that conveys the action and energy of the transfer. 

The frame is divided into two distinct sections – one in focus and the other in motion. This juxtaposition not only adds depth to the image but also guides the viewer's eye to the motion, making it the focal point of the photograph. It also adds an abstract look creating patterns and textures moving it beyond a literal representation to something that can be appreciated for its visual qualities.

It also employs the rule of thirds with the cascading stream of corn filling two-thirds of the frame and the dividing line at the one-third point of the frame. The composition is balanced with the large portion in motion balanced by the visually heavier weighted metal screen and corn not in motion.

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This is an Amazon link where I make a few pennies to help pay for my life. Today’s book is Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. It’s a perfect read to understand, or try to understand, the chaotic behavior of the corn falling down the chute and how it relates to the continuity in our lives.

Almost everything I shoot goes through Luminar Neo. Even after I’ve made the first edit of my raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. I’ve built my own set of Luminar presets for the places and things I normally shoot and for different lighting conditions at those places. Then it’s easy to adjust the results for fine-tuning each photo. This is an affiliate link so I might make a little something from sale. Download it for the trial period.