Technique Starting Point

[Hill Country Hack]

I have an idea for an image and I want to run the technique by you all to see if I'm even on the right track for what I'm envisioning.

I want to make an image of an sir scoop on a hot rod. I see a shallowish DOF so one can still make out the hood and windshield (and hopefully be able to come up with the make of the car) AND with a slow enough shutter speed to show the movement of the butterflies and linkage of the air scoop. The car will be stationary and I'll have the owner pumping the accelerator pedal.

My plan is to use my kit 70-300mm non IS lens on a tripod, be near to the subject, zoom in and use the most open apeture for that focal length (f5.6). If I understand DOF correctly this will give me the desired effect. The trick will be slowing the shutter without underexposing too badly. Or can I do the same set up and select f8-f11 to get the slower shutter speed? I'll also be using my .6 ND filter.

Would I have better luck using my 50mm f1.8?

[ErikUngerPhotography]

You may need more/stronger ND filters. I don't know what the lighting is going to be like or exactly how slow of a shutter speed you are going to need. If it is well lit, f/5.6 and 1/15 may be overexposed. I would find a similarly lit situation and test it out. If your camera has the ability to drop to 50 ISO, that will help you by a stop.