Zapcat speedboats - first attempt at panning

[flashmat2]

This was my first attempt at panning, and I truly do want to get good at this, so please don't hold back. Conditions weren't ideal - it was about 13:45 Summer time (12:45 GMT equivalent), and I was shooting pretty much directly towards the sun. Also, it was my stag do, and I'd had a couple of pints by then, so will proably be a little more steady of hand next time I try panning. I had a ride on the Zapcat just after taking these, and my hands were much less steady afterwards.

300D, Tamron 18-200mm XR DI2, EXIF info on the pages, Hoya cicular polarising filter - probably the only reason I got any shots going straight into the sun.

http://thefool.co.uk/index.php?showimage=14
http://thefool.co.uk/index.php?showimage=17

Apologies for linking out of the forums, but the images are 1024x680ish, and I don't want to wreck the forums layout :)

[PhotosGuy]

Great start! Keep at it! The 1st is a bit dark but I like the feeling. The 2nd is too light & the highlights are blown, so split the difference? ;)

[flashmat2]

I don't really know how to solve the dark and light exposure problem, I had the camera set in Tv mode to keep the shutter speed at 1/60 - I obviously managed to focus/expose on a light patch first shot, and a dark patch for the second shot :rolleyes:

[Nidz]

Gee I dunno.. Good start point i guess but I'll be the critical one. I am not sure what's going on at the top of pic #1. Did the pan blur make the top all black? The second pic is ok but a little fuzzy and maybe over exposed and you realy can't see a whole lot of the boat. Dosen't seem to be in the frame very well either. Sorry to be the stick in the mud but I thought i'd let you know my opinions.

[PhotosGuy]

I don't really know how to solve the dark and light exposure problem, Ask 3 people & you might get 3 different methods that work. I'd try to anticipate where the shot I want will be, then meter & put my adjusted setting in "M". Did you see these? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=101101)

[flashmat2]

PhotosGuy, you know, it didn't even occur to me to meter/expose at the point where the boat would be when the shutter was going - though I did manage to focus there or thereabouts and flip the lens into MF so I wouldn't lose the focus. And yes, I did see those photos, and am insanely jealous ;)

Nidz - don't worry about being critical/a stick in the mud, I'd rather here how other people view the pics, a fresh perspective on things can only help to improve them - a bit like proof-reading your own writing, there's always a few mistakes that you never spot, because your eyes are used to it, and know what they're expecting to see.

[PhotosGuy]

you know, it didn't even occur to me to meter/expose at the point where the boat would be when the shutter was going :D Another secret revealed!