What technique is used to make a camera shutter pause long enough to capture detailed action, such as a swimmer’s form?

The technique that is specifically used to capture detailed action, such as a swimmer’s form, is referred to as stopping action. This technique often involves using a fast shutter speed, which momentarily freezes the motion of a subject in action, allowing the photograph to showcase finer details that are otherwise lost when subjects are in rapid motion.

Stopping action is particularly effective in sports photography or other fast-paced settings where clarity of the subject's movement is crucial. By briefly exposing the sensor, the camera captures a sharp image of the swimmer at the peak of their stroke, conveying both the form and the dynamics of the movement.

While long exposure does allow for capturing motion over time, it would result in motion blur rather than the sharp detail needed for action shots. HDR imaging is typically used to capture a broader range of tones and is not focused on freezing action. Light painting utilizes long exposures combined with a moving light source, which again isn’t designed for capturing rapid action but rather for creative effects in photography.