truck launch

[twitch23]

I'm new to the site and new to photography. Take a look at this photo and give me some tips on what I could do better. Thanks!

Canon Rebel T1i
EF-S 55 - 250mm
Shutter 1/500
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 400
Focal Length 194 mm

[zona5101]

Hi and welcome.
What don't you like about it? What could have you done to make it better?

For me, the composition is poor. There is stuff going on in the background, people, poles, cars, etc and there is a lot of unneeded grass in the foreground. The angle of the shot is pretty boring. Try and shoot from more interesting or unusual angle, try and isolate the subject. I mean its a nice snapshot but it gonna look like everybody else's shot unless you do something to make it unique.

[John Hendry]

Yes change the angle lower or higher and you do not alwqays have to have the whole thing in a reflection off the paint work can be interesting

All the best

[mwatson]

I would like to see a little tighter aperture with a longer exposure. The front tires are off the ground but there is no reference to movement. At first I thought it was just on jacks or something.

Zona is correct about the grass in the foreground. There is a lot of it. Try cutting off your view at the pavement next time.

Overall, it is a good attempt. If they do this event regularly, try it again. Looks like a fun shoot.

[twitch23]

Thanks for the tips! The event is held once a year in my area. This was the first time with my new camera and I knew it wasn't going perfect, but I'm learning. I thought about a smaller f-stop to get the SS down.....what SS would be about right for an event like this?

[alphavalues]

Originally Posted by twitch23

...what SS would be about right for an event like this?

1/15th is a good starting point to do panning - focus on a point on the truck and begin following it off the line, keeping the camera pointed at that same spot on the truck as it takes off - press the shutter button and follow through after the shutter closes.

Not unlike shooting trap, actually.

I think if the background were blurred laterally, as well as out of focus while the truck in focus, that would help work around the whole "too many people standing around behind the truck" problem.

And as was mentioned before, there's hundreds of "close in" shots that work - the rear tires squealing and throwing smoke, the lines of the body when the nose lifts under torque, etc.