My first panning shots

[Pete]

Certainly getting into my L lens now. I had a fair few chuckaways due to having a non-IS lens and the fence getting in the way and distracting the AI Servo focus. I'm more than happy with the good shots that I did get though.

These were taken at Ford Fair at Silverstone last weekend. All these are untouched so could benifit from some tone/saturation/USM work.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/7/114400/img_1146.jpg
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/7/114400/img_0981.jpg
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/7/7/114400/img_1106.jpg

Criticism is always welcome.

[Jimages]

Your vantage point looks like you were on the inside of entry to Maggots. Which layout were they using?

Because I think you would probably be able to get much better results by panning on the national striaght, where there is no fence in the way.

Shooting from behind the fencing is difficult at the best of times, so it's always good to get to a point where you can avoid that, to practise technique with minimal hinderance.

Those aren't too bad for first attempts, I presume you used your 70-200mm as in your sig, which for Silverstone is a bit lacking in reach. Luffield is also a good place for panning, if you're cheeky enough to press yourself right up against the fence. Also try Club and Bridge where you can get high enoguh to shoot over the fence.

[Pete]

These were on the straight between Stow and Vale. I manged to stand on something to get over the fence at one point, and also managed to get to one of the marshall's stands, which gave much better views.

I need to improve on my technique as I feel that I'm snatching at the shutter and throwing a motion blur (much like rifle shooting). High speed burst mode helps, but it's hard to work out what the best shots are when chimping.

Managed to easily fill my 2Gb card in the day, so I'll need at least another couple of cards to really get used to taking shots without worrying about the quality of them until I get back home again.

[Jimages]

Quite a difficult spot that, even in front of the fence. On the inside of that area I'd concentrate on head on or 3/4 shots and freezing the action. Stowe is a very fast corner and it's quite tricky to track the cars from the inside.

(click on these images to view a larger version)

http://www.j-images.com/2006/f1testsilverstone406/img_0182.jpg (http://www.j-images.com/2006/large/f1406/img_0182.jpg)
This is pretty much from where you describe. Shutter speed here was probably about 500, ISO 200-400 depending on cloud cover, aperture as high as you can get away with in the light conditions, typically 8 in good silverstone light, although this was probably more like 5.6.

http://www.j-images.com/2006/f1testsilverstone406/img_9617.jpg (http://www.j-images.com/2006/large/f1406/img_9617.jpg)
This is taken from further along looking back at the exit of stowe, and vale chicane, shutter speed 250-500, although 200mm would be far to short for this point.

For panning at Stowe/Vale, the outside is much better, if again a bit long of 200mm.

http://www.j-images.com/2006/britishgrandprix2006/img_2500.jpg (http://www.j-images.com/2006/large/bgp606/img_2500.jpg)
Taken from the bank on the exit of stowe, where you are high enough to shoot over the fence. (outside) Shutter speed 250 or under.

Also try, practising on single shot mode.

I tend to concentrate on single shot most of the time. Although sometimes this might lose you a glowing disc or locked wheel shot. On burst mode I invaribly find myself forgeting about the shot I am taking, on Single shot there is more chance of concentrating on getting it right as opposed to chucking it all up in the air and hoping to be lucky to get "the one".

It might be useful to you to hone your panning tecbnigque on single shot first, then move onto burst mode.

[Pete]

Very good advice, I'll keep that in mind for the next time I'm track-side.

Found a couple other good ones from the batch. Can't resist a bit of flame action...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/peteghia/_MG_1138copy.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a294/peteghia/_MG_1172copy.jpg

[F308 MAN]

Managed to easily fill my 2Gb card in the day, so I'll need at least another couple of cards to really get used to taking shots without worrying about the quality of them until I get back home again.
Pete, have you considered a storage unit to download the content of your cards onto, whilst "in the field" ?
I use a Giga one, 40 gig storage unit and it costs less than £100.

cheers, d

[Pete]

Pete, have you considered a storage unit to download the content of your cards onto, whilst "in the field" ?
I use a Giga one, 40 gig storage unit and it costs less than £100.

cheers, d

Smashing advice that, managed to pick a 30Gb one off eBay for £60 - way way cheaper than buying more CF cards. I wanted more storage space anyway.

Cheers!!

[asylumxl]

looks good, a bit more practice of your panning technique and they'll be spot on. you could always crop your shots a bit if you can't get close enoth.

[Trung_EP3CTR]

Jimages
What lens did you use for those F1 shots?

[Jimages]

Jimages
What lens did you use for those F1 shots?

I do the bulk of my shooting with a Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3, plus a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8, often with a 2x connected.

Having 500mm at your disposal is pretty much a must at Silverstone.

I'll update my forum signature to display the equipment I own.