need for speed

[gheft]

f5.6 1/2500 sec iso 400 no editing shot in manual mode what could i have done to make it a better photograph

[IABoomer]

See info on the "rule of thirds" for composition and consider how you'd apply it here.

I'd probably zoom out a little more instead of being quite so tight on the boat. Put the boat maybe bottom-left third intersection, opening up a bit of sky/trees at the top and giving the boat room to "move" towards the right. The negative space would help push the viewer's attention to the boat.

[zona5101]

you have a bit of what appears to be motion blur in there too. And since it effects the trees, it was probaby due to your movement (panning?)
If not motion then it's just not sharp..

[photog1107]

For a shot like this to work, you need to really make "speed" the subject... not the boat. You have some water that is blurred... but not enough to make an impact. Thus, the composition looks somewhat staid, when in fact, it was a very fast moving boat, I am sure.

I'd try panning next time. Panning is tough to learn but once you can master it, it can really bring that oomph to speed shots that you want.

On a more logistical note, just moving the camera slightly up to negate the rocky background interfering with the boat/subject, would improve the shot as well, IMO.

Keep shooting!

[RichardTaylor]

As well as the comments regarding sharpness & composition, the picture appears to be tilted.

When you say you were shooting in manual mode, did that mean focus as well?.

[gheft]

thank you all I will do that next time boat was moving very fast and yes it was manual focus

[RichardTaylor]

Depending on your camera & lens I would try autofocus, centre point only active, and focus tracking on.
I think the main problem is that it is not focussed.
1/2500 should have stopped all motion including cold.

Here is an example of what can be achieved with a fast moving subject & panning.
Shot at 1/100

[gheft]

thank you richard I will put that in my notes

[kingmsport]

I think your issue is with focus and composition more so than shutter speed.

IMHO shooting boats is different from shooting racecars (particularly those that race on pavement). With racecars on pavement, you need a slow shutter speed to capture motion in the wheels and background, otherwise the car looks like it is standing still. www.KingMotorsportPhotography.com

With a boat on the other hand, you have the rooster tail, and if your lucky the boat is launching off a wave. Therefore you can freeze the action and still capture the motion. In fact seeing the droplets of water in the air adds definition and depth to the photo. This is where focus and composition comes in.

The focus has to be "tack sharp" and you have to capture the rooster tail and spray. You will have to pan with the boat using auto focus continuous tracking and have the shutter on hyperdrive. Shoot a minimum of three shots as you pan with the boat. Assuming your panning is smooth and in sync with the boat and your auto focus can track the boat, at least one should come out perfect.

The rule of thirds is indispensable. In your shot you want a little more of the rooster tail and you want the boat to be in the lower left thirds intersection. To help with composition, if your camera allows, set the auto focus point to the lower left (or right depending on the direction the boat is going) and keep that point on the boat as you pan with it across your field of view. This will force the camera to focus on the boat instead of the background.

Last tip is to check out some speed boat web sites and magazines and study the good photos and dissect them and try to figure out what makes that photograph work, then try to duplicate it. Good Shooting....