London in motion: embracing motion blur

with the Fujifilm X-T5 & Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8

Stepping outside of my usual photography style has always been an exciting challenge, and this time, I wanted to push myself even further by capturing motion in a way I usually avoid, through intentional motion blur.

My background in fashion photography has conditioned me to prioritise sharpness and clarity; after all, clients typically expect crisp, detailed images where every stitch and texture is visible. Blurry images, unless creatively intentional, are often seen as mistakes rather than artistic choices. However, I was eager to break that mindset and experiment with motion in the city.

To achieve the effect I envisioned, I paired my Fujifilm X-T5 with the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 and a variable ND filter. Shooting motion blur in daylight can be tricky, as the bright environment naturally requires fast shutter speeds, which counteract the effect.

The ND filter was essential in cutting down the light, allowing me to slow down the shutter speed enough to capture movement without overexposing the image. Despite not being the most expensive filter on the market, the one I used did an excellent job. It provided the flexibility I needed to control exposure while experimenting with different shutter speeds, helping me find the right balance between clarity and blur.

At first, the process felt foreign. I kept asking myself, "What am I doing?". But as I kept experimenting, adjusting my settings, and observing the movement around me, I started to embrace the energy of London in motion.

The city provided the perfect canvas: busy streets, rushing commuters, flowing traffic, and even the occasional red double-decker bus streaking through my frame. Instead of resisting the blur, I leaned into it, letting the movement of the scene dictate my shots rather than trying to control every element. It was liberating to let go of perfection and allow the imperfections to tell a story.

This experience reminded me that photography is as much about feeling as it is about technique. While motion blur isn’t something I would typically incorporate into my fashion work, I now see its potential in storytelling, adding depth, emotion, and a sense of dynamism to an image. There’s still so much to learn, but stepping out of my comfort zone has been an incredibly rewarding process. Motion blur, once an element I tried to avoid, is now something I want to explore further, perhaps even incorporating it in unexpected ways in my future projects.

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