To be brief, motion photography is about showing movement. Adding a slight blur of the action to your shot helps tell a story. This storytelling element makes the images a little less static and unexpected. Another reason why showing movement stands out is because it sets the mood.

You create the blur with a slow shutter speed. The slower your shutter speed (sometimes called a long shutter speed), the more light gets to your camera sensor. Because your shutter is open longer, more visual information is captured, which can include the blur of motion.

The key to capturing any kind of fast motion is to use a faster shutter speed. DSLRs and bridge cameras allow you to adjust the shutter speed manually. If you're using a point-and-shoot camera, you can select the Sports scene mode or turn on motion detection to help you capture action shots.