Panning cars

[WJR4]

Hello everyone-

I just found this site tonight and have been reading up. I'll continue to follow and hope to learn some new info and put it into practice!

I also enjoy motion shots, as my subjects are usually cars. I am self-taught on this, and will appreciate any tips from others.

Here's one of mine... I know I was playing with the shutter speed and this should be in the 1/40 to 1/50 sec range. I am using a Canon XSi with a 85-250 zoom in the 120-150mm range. Some minor color adjustment PP and cropping.

I'll have to start recording my details better to allow for some criticism.

Thanks for any comments!

Bill

[RichardTaylor]

I feel for good panning shots at least part of the subject should be sharp.

Here are a few examples.
[IMG][/IMG]

Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 80 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Large pic can be viewed here.
Ford, Model T, 1922 Racer on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and



Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Larger pic can be seen here.
Sunset on the strip on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I usually start shooting around 1/125-1/250 second depending on the subject and how far away I am from it. If possible I try to be square on as well.
Camera is set up for focus tracking and high FPS. As the subject approaches I partially press the shutter button to give the camera/lens time to focus. As the subject passes I will shoot of a burst of 4-6 pics Keeping my camera movement smooth as I follow through. I usually will have one good pic.

You may want to look at this Flickr Panning group lots of good info there.

Flickr: PANNING SHOTS ONLY

[wamplers]

I agree with Richard, you need to work on your panning. The car itself should be sharp, but as is it's totally blurred.

[tufcat]

Panning race cars is one of those things that just takes practice. The more that you do it, the better you get.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different settings. In the end, you have to shoot within your abilities. I have seen very nice panned photos taken at a 1/60 shutter speed, but I cannot take a good photo of anything at that slow of a shutter speed, I just don’t have the technique.

Work on being smooth with your movements, not just the panning motion, but the shutter release as well. Also, follow through with your panning motion even after the shot.

Have fun and keep shooting.

D2X, 80-200-f/2.8 @ 135mm, 1/400 @ f/8, ISO 200

[RVT1000]

I really like the feeling of speed that the photo has captured but as others have pointed out the car is a bit too blurry. I think that the panning is the issue because a faster shutter speed will kill some of the feeling of speed. I always practice my panning before the cars come by, I will rotate my body back and forth so I have the motion down before I take the picture.