saside Loc: live in pueblo co

This was a woops moment, but can be an interesting technique for "ghost" pictures. 1 sec shutter speed iso 3200 no flash but if a flas was used with a 1/2 sec delay a "solid" portrait whould have show in the picture

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

Now that's funny! -- especially as I had to do a double take to get it!

Flact George Loc: SE FL & SE CT

I do a lot of shots with moving objects -- cars, horses, people.

Sometimes a shot works when many parts of the image are motion-blurred, but some are sharp.

Here is a fav: http://smu.gs/ymmvAs

Hemmings Sports and Exotic Cars does a lot of cars-at-speed shots that employ more than just background-and tires blur effectively conveying the feel of bouncing around in an older car.

Here is an example of this effect: http://ggreider.smugmug.com/Cars/Sports-and-Exotics/6666625_KsQfCG#!i=1001140282&k=i4hmL

However, we should note that my wife who is more of an artist than I having a BFA does not agree with me on the desirability of these effects.

I apologize for the links instead of embeds, but the originals are on a hard drive somewhere and it's still dark here.

Carl A Loc: Homosassa FL

A blurred image. A photo of a water fall with a long
exposure would give the warter a silky look.
There are times you would want to have a blurred
image . I think it shows motion.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Remember those old racing photos with the wheels shaped like ovals? That had something to do with the camera being used.

Flact George Loc: SE FL & SE CT

Yeah! I had forgotten about those Barney Oldfield shots. I wonder if we could repeat the effect with the Distort filter -- of course we could; with PS anything is possible. May try later on and will post if successful; have to be in grainy B&W. (I think -- emphasis think -- the effect was due to coincidence of the orientation of the focal plane shutter and the direction of the pan.)

amyinsparta Loc: White county, TN

The only criteria is how YOU view it. If you like the way it looks, then it's good.

rambler Loc: Masssachusetts

I would agree with docrob and amyinsparta above. YOU decide what you want blurred. In general, consider what is the main subject of your photo and what do you want it to convey to those who see it. Then decide how best , or what techniques should you use to bring emphasis to your subject, or what other elements do you want to include or exclude from the frame or other parts of the image that play a supporting role to the main subject.
For example, you might have a background that if shown in clear focus would distract attention away from your main subject which happens to be in the foreground. Let's suppose you were taking a photo of a friend in a city park. In the background, however, there was a large green, unattractive garbage truck. It does not go well with the image of your friend. So, you choose a very shallow depth of field which blurs out the truck, we no longer see a truck, but instead a blurred green color that actually makes a nice backdrop. We do not see a truck, but just a green blur.
Photoshop actually has a method of putting blur into a photo. Blur can imply motion as you have pointed out. Motion might be very important to the effectiveness of the message you want to convey. You might want to have a racing motor cylce in clear focus, but how best to show that it is also speeding? Add blur.
Another common example of intended blur is found in moving water whether it be a waterfall, ocean waves, a fountain or running faucet, rain, any moving water, adding blur can have a wonderful effect.
My pet peeve for blurs is having a prominent blurry out of focus object in the foreground. I am almost always disappointed to have that happen in one of my images. Yet, there are exceptions, too. In the end it comes down to your own preference. Whatever works for you.

ticTOC Loc: IL

I have found a couple of good uses for blurred photos.

A panning shot of a low flying bird....the background will be blurred while the subject is sharp.

The intended use of minimal depth of field in pictures. See the attached pics, I was trying to get 'visually' into a flower in this sample.

I see the out side of this flower quite clearly


Now I've gotten into, to the bottom of the inside

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

If it moves set your (S) to 400 or higher. and always focus on the eyes with a single point of focus. Multiple points of focus are for beginners. Lastly, keep your f/stop around 8 or higher..

Nevada Chuck

The question can't really be answered because you didn't indicate who the photo should be acceptible to. In other words, a photo may be intentionally blurred for artistic reasons, but the viewer may not consider it acceptible because of the degree of blurring, or any blurring at all because the viewer simply doesn't like that form of artistic expression.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

But given that scene mom, blur works.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Might want to explain to those are require it, that "OOF" stands for "Out Of Focus"....just thought I'd throw that out there....continue....

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

I was wondering that myself. Thanks.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Finally, the right answer! lol