Grand Prix Action

[thebiggerpixel]

Hi, I originally posted this in SYS but didn't realise there was a critique section, so re-posting it here as I would like feedback, particularly tips from anyone who has photographed Formula 1.

This shot is of Jenson Button on the final lap of the Italian Grand Prix. I was sat behind a fence so had to set a slower shutter speed and pan to blur it out. Any thoughts or tips?



Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/22.0
Focal Length 80 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV
Flash No Flash

[sk66]

Pretty nice shot!

A shallower DOF would have allowed a faster shutter speed to freeze a bit more of the motion blur from vibration (I would think you'd need to be around 1/200). it's notable at either end of the car and the driver's head.
The shallower DOF would have put the fence more OOF and still require panning. You don't have to pan to obscure an obstruction..you just have to focus "thru" it and keep it out of the DOF.

[thebiggerpixel]

Thanks for the feedback sk66.

I tried many shots with a wider aperture but the fence became very visible because of the relatively faster shutter speed. I understand what you are saying about DOF but I couldn't find a better combination of aperture and shutter speed. I think maybe this was because the fence was about half way between me and the car? I understand things would've been easier if I had been right up close to the fence but I was restricted to my seat.

Would a different ISO setting have helped at all?

[RichardTaylor]

Originally Posted by thebiggerpixel

Thanks for the feedback sk66.

Would a different ISO setting have helped at all?

I think it is pretty good considering you are shooting through the fence.

I think a lower ISO would have helped as you could have kept the same shutter shutter speed and shot at a wider aperture to throw the fence out of focus even more.

You may find this post, on this forum, of interest.
Panning: Motor sport

[sk66]

Here's an example of one I shot thru the fence. I would say the fence was 50yds from me and the bike about 70yds so the fence was closer to the bike than me.
My settings had a wider aperture and faster shutter speed and it worked quite well. The only "evidence" of the fence is the support cable. Part of the difference might have been panning speed as the bikes were doing close to 200mph and at that distance they went by QUICK.
The longer focal length also contributes for shallower DOF (for a given focal distance). I think to get to a wide aperture in that situation you would have needed a CPL or ND as well as "low" on the ISO.

Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/6
Focal Length 195 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV

[thebiggerpixel]

Thanks both of you for your feedback. It's certainly given me some things to think about for next time.

Very nice shot of the bike sk66. I reckon I was a similar distance from the car as you were to the bike. They were probably going around 150mph, a difference which may have been significant. Interesting too about the focal length effect on DOF - I hadn't considered that one!

Thanks again.