Mustang in motion

[arlon]

This was a fun shot but has a few technical difficulties to over come. Biggest issue is getting something to hold the camera away from the car and still be rigid enough (and cheap enough) to get a clean shot then finding someplace smooth enough to idle or push the car without bouncing it.

I made a pole from some scrap aluminum I had laying around (3 sections makes it very portable) bolted togather with a pair of 1/4x20 hex bolts at each joint. Could have used anything from an electrical conduit to a fence rail..

I added a pair of guy wires for stability to the whole setup. For wire I used 60lb test braided stainles steel fishing leader material ($3.50 at discount store). One attached onder the front of the car to some protruding part of the car, other was attached to a suction cup "handle" (sold in the hardware stores for putting in a bath tub). Leader wire is plastic coated but I also slip a piece of "fish tank tubing" over the wire to protect anyplace it comes in contact with the paint.

Pole was simply clamped to the exhaust pipes with radiator clamps. I had an old tripod head that I bolted to the pipe, works great.

Lens was a 12-24mm Tokina set at 12mm.
Filter used was an ND400 9 stop neutral density filter (could have easily done this late in the evening without the filter).
Lens was set at F16 and 20 second shutter was used.

I set the flash to rear curtain and in commander mode on the d90. All the flash did was alert me to when the exposure was starting and ending. Commander mode preflashes right at the start of the exposure and rear curtain flashes the real flash at the end of the shot. I also used the timer so I could get in the car and get it moving.

Car was simply idled in gear slower than you can walk for about 15ft (length of the car).
Car speed=15ft/20sec.. do the math. (-:}

There is a fair amount of cloning that has to be done to remove the wires and pole. Not a real issue for anyone that's used a clone stamp before.


LARGER VERSION


Setup:

LARGER VERSION

[FISHEYE]

awesome man, thanks for sharing...i do a fair amount of car phototgraphy....maybe ill try this some day.....great shot!

[nathanbarlow]

awesome results

Curious to know how much trial and error it took to get the result you wanted in terms of motion blur?

You should see if you can do a frontal shot, mustange front ends are beautiful Maybe you could attached it to the loop underneath the spoiler which is used for towing?

Anyways you wouldnt see me doing that DIY haha - be worried about having forgotten some crucial part, and CRASH goes my camera into the tarmac when we get moving haha. Thats about one of the few things I would be happy to pay for, but guessing its expensive gear for something which would just be for a few shots (for me)

[filemanager]

Wow that's amazing!

*cringes*


that set up looks dangerous man... the automotive pro's use suction cups... I wouldn't recommend this method as it may damage the car and your camera.

[arlon]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

*cringes*


that set up looks dangerous man... the automotive pro's use suction cups... I wouldn't recommend this method as it may damage the car and your camera.

Dangerous? Dangerous to what? That's just a dumb comment.

I've been rigging stuff for 40 years.. Suction cups are dangerous and they are notorious for damaging painted surfaces and coming loose at the worst times. You'd have to have some mechanical knowledge to understand the integrity of this setup. Just because someone is a "pro" that doesn't mean they have the best setup.

It's quite rigid, tested with about 30 lbs before using the camera. Car never leaves my driveway and the camera is over grass. Oh, my camera gear is all covered by insurance riders so if it gets damaged it's covered anyway. Dangerous to what??



As to tries, my first try was pretty good (different car). My second try was much better. That's where I learned the amount of motion blurr is controlled by the angle of the front wheels. The Mustang posted above was about my 4th or 5th try ever.

My very first try was quite acceptable (to me): in motion by *nolra on deviantART

[CobraNutt]

Very cool! I'm going to have to try this!

Originally Posted by arlon

Dangerous? Dangerous to what? That's just a dumb comment.

I've been rigging stuff for 40 years.. Suction cups are dangerous and they are notorious for damaging painted surfaces and coming loose at the worst times. You'd have to have some mechanical knowledge to understand the integrity of this setup. Just because someone is a "pro" that doesn't mean they have the best setup.

It's quite rigid, tested with about 30 lbs before using the camera. Car never leaves my driveway and the camera is over grass. Oh, my camera gear is all covered by insurance riders so if it gets damaged it's covered anyway. Dangerous to what??

Dangerous to the car and to the camera if it falls off. So, no it's not a dumb comment.

I understand "some" mechanical stuff, I was a mechanic for years... bored the crap out of me.

The folks I know who shoot for Car & Driver and Autoweek all use suction cups specially made for this exact thing.

But, hey... do what you like. I felt people should know that this can be harmful to the car/camera. If you have insurance. Fine.

Do whatever you like.

[arlon]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Dangerous to the car and to the camera if it falls off.
.

Yea, I probably knocked some dirt off the exhaust pipe and I agree if the ballhead broke, my camera could be damaged. Point well taken..

I will be trying another one with a length of electrical conduit of 1" or so diameter. I believe it would also be strong enough. I will continue to support from under the car though. I just don't trust a suction cup affair on the paint. The suction cup I use for the support wire is mounted to the back glass. Wire is only for steadying the camera, not for holding it up. Pole is plenty strong enough for that.

I do hope the 3/8 inch eyebolt that holds the ball head to the heavy wall square tubing doesn't break..



Every time you put your camera on a tripod, you assume some risk but that's not going to keep me from using one from time to time. If you try one of these motion shots, use an ounce of common sense please.

Originally Posted by arlon

*SNIP*

The only reason I made the point in the first place is that many people may not see that you pushed it... many of the rig shots I've seen have been doing 30+mph... and lets face it, people who read this might not do it exactly the same way you did it and may take more risks and they should be aware that doing a rig shot is EXTREMELY risky for your equipment, especially since it's a moving car.

Just clarifying.

~Eric