First go at High Speed Sports Photography

[dharmit]

Hi,

This is the first time I tried to take photos of high speed sports and tried to pan along with the action.

The reason I like this photo is that the center of the car in the photo is in sharp focus and the remaining is blurred.

Please let me know what can be done to improve this type of photos.



Exif data:
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Lense: 55-250 IS kit lense
Focal Length: 55mm
Exposure: 1/50 sec
Aperture: f4.5
ISO: 1600
Metering: Center Weighted Average
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Compensation: 0 stops

CLICK HERE to see Other photos that I think are good in this range

[jdepould]

1/50s is just too slow for this kind of stuff, unless you want it to be really blurred. Generally, I'd shoot 1/125 or higher, so the background and wheels would blur, but the chassis would be reasonably sharp.

[dharmit]

Originally Posted by jdepould

1/50s is just too slow for this kind of stuff, unless you want it to be really blurred. Generally, I'd shoot 1/125 or higher, so the background and wheels would blur, but the chassis would be reasonably sharp.

Thats a good comment jdepould. Next time I will try to take these type of photos at the recommended speed to get the entire car reasonably sharp.

In general is there any specific shutter speeds that needs to be maintained or is there any particular aperture that needs to be taken care of?

I would really like critiques for this photo.

Thanks

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by dharmit

Thats a good comment jdepould. Next time I will try to take these type of photos at the recommended speed to get the entire car reasonably sharp.

In general is there any specific shutter speeds that needs to be maintained or is there any particular aperture that needs to be taken care of?

I would really like critiques for this photo.

Thanks

Aperture is tough, because it looks like you're using a lens with a fairly small maximum aperture. That means at night you're going to be hurting for shutter speed and ISO. I'd shoot something like this at f/2.8 and ISO3200, but you don't really have that option.

[takethislife5150]

I'd recommend a faster shutter speed if possible, get more of the care in focus

on a sidenote, you're a sprint car fan eh?
Brent Kaeding is my uncle.

[Elmo]

This was a good start. I noticed you tried to pan (follow the car). This takes a lot of trial and error and is generally easier with a longer lens (less angle of rotation). With the car coming at an angle it was changing sizes (get bigger as it get closer) causing same additional apparent blur.

I noticed it was shot at 55mm and you have a 50mm 1.4. try using the 50 at say f2 and bump up the shutter speed.

Keep on keeping on you as the rest of us will never get it totally right, only close.

[dharmit]

Hi all.

Thanks for the suggestions. The only reason it was shot at focal length of 55 is because I had my 55-250 lens on the camera and the race began so I had little time to change the lense.

To summarise the discussion we had

• Have big aperture like f2.0 or f3.2 (if your lens permits)
• Use high shutter speed like 1/125 or 1/200 (More the better)
• Use less ISO if light is sufficient and above two conditions are satisfied
• Pan along with the action
• Have lots of fun (Most important point)

Let me know if more needs to be added in the list