Motorcycles

[WPCatfish]

Took this one on the Bay Bridge, I like the colors of the bikes and the overhead signs. Been playing with cropping but didn't like how it turned out if I cut both the cars out of the shot. Very new to this, would welcome any suggestions as to what settings I should use in situations like this, what ideal crops/fixes are etc.




Nikon D5000
NIkkor 55 - 200 mm AF VR
f/10
1/250 sec
ISO 200
200 mm Focal Length
White Balance Auto

Took it in the 'No Flash' setting at about 50 MPH (in the passenger seat, gotta think 'safe')

[digirebelva]

How about this, it puts more emphasis on the motorcycles

[Jools_jti]

Not too sure what shot you had in mind, but as you said the bikes and sign were the drivers.

If you're completely composing in camera, leave clear space around the subjects, try not to let them break the frame edges. If you're expecting to crop the image later, give even more room around the subject.

Try to isolate any subject, choosing the time to shoot when there is less interference from other elements, in this case it may be hard as you are all doing 50mph

Use the widest apeture (smallest f/no), this will blur (bokeh) before and after the subject helping to isolate them.

Shooting from a car or moving platform or moving subjects, use a fast shutter speed 1/500+, this will help freeze the action and minimise camera shake etc. Just beacuse it's sunny you don't have to shoot at iso200.

Try, try and try some more, every shot will teach you something new.

[WPCatfish]

Digireb, I like the crop, I was cutting it off closer (on the bottom) to the bike tires and wasn't happy with the result. It just seemed unbalanced when I did it.


Jools, basically I was playing with the camera while the Mrs was driving, saw the bikes pass us and snapped off the shot. Another fraction of a second and I wouldn't have gotten the overhead sign in. Hadn't been playing with the camera settings so a lot of it was auto, I'm afraid including the speed and iso.


One clear advantage digital has over film is I can see the results right away, and it's not costing a quarter each time I squeeze the shutter (film and processing).

[MSidPhoto]

Digirebelva has done the right thing.
Its a nice shot but emphasis on motorcycles was required since your title is "Motorcycles"