Motocross - Panning

[Diana718]

I'm new to the digital SLR world. I was at the track this weekend. Both of these were taken on my XTi, EF-S 75-300 in TV mode. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9559/whitney021807109copyrw5.th.jpg (http://img381.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whitney021807109copyrw5.jpg)

ISO - 400; 1/60; f/32

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3331/whitney021807015copybt3.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whitney021807015copybt3.jpg)

ISO - 400; 1/60; f/25

Thanks!

[R Mutt]

a little too blurry. At the shutter speeds you're using their is little room for mistakes in technique, shake, etc and when you do hit your sharpness will be relegated to a small area. If you really want the motion blur pan shot start around 1/125th or 1/160th for a start, you will have much better results.


Here's some examples of what I mean.

1/80th, notice the focal point is on the helmet and sharp while the majority of the surrounding area and bike is not.

http://www.rmutt.netfirms.com/Photos/potnandy1.jpg

1/200th, still acceptable motion blur but much more of the bike is in focus.

http://www.rmutt.netfirms.com/Photos/potnandy2.jpg

[Diana718]

Thanks for the advice! I will try it next time at the shutter speeds you suggested!

[gsgary]

In both shots you were at ISO 400 but could have been at ISO 100, apertures were at F32 and F25 which is very small and can effect sharpness of the image dropping the ISO would have given you a bigger apperture, when panning try to be as smooth as possible keep your elbows into your side as you press the shutter follow through like a golfer, try shooting at about 1/160 and see what you get and as you get better you can lower the speed
Hope this helps, here one of mine hope you don't mind this is at 1/60 F5.6
http://gsgary.smugmug.com/photos/48163688-M.jpg

[Diana718]

Nice shot! Looks like a muddy track that day.
I'm really new so excuse me if this is a stupid question but:
you're saying that if I had dropped my ISO to 100, kept the shutter speed the same in TV mode the camera would choose a larger aperature for me?

[gsgary]

Nice shot! Looks like a muddy track that day.
I'm really new so excuse me if this is a stupid question but:
you're saying that if I had dropped my ISO to 100, kept the shutter speed the same in TV mode the camera would choose a larger aperature for me?


Yes thats right, iso 100 needs more light than iso 400 so it opens the aperture to let more light in, and in AV it would choose a slower shutter speed to let more light in, Most people use TV for motorsport and ball games AV, they will use F2.8 to blur the background which will give them a fast shutter speed

[NordieBoy]

1/250th - Shutter too fast, see the frozen front wheel?
http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/dirt/20070107%20Rat%20Track%20Supercross/slides/20070107-120854.jpg

1/60th - Shutter too slow, the whoops introduce a vertical component to the movement.
http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/dirt/20070107%20Rat%20Track%20Supercross/slides/20070107-120902.jpg

1/160th - Good start point for the shutter, from here you can go faster or slower depending on the conditions.
http://www.photostorage.nelson.geek.nz/sports/motorsport/dirt/20070107%20Rat%20Track%20Supercross/slides/20070107-121527.jpg

[Diana718]

Thanks for posting those pics! I can't wait till my next nephew's race to work on my panning again with all the advise I got! Thanks!! :)

[StealthLude]

a little too blurry. At the shutter speeds you're using their is little room for mistakes in technique, shake, etc and when you do hit your sharpness will be relegated to a small area. If you really want the motion blur pan shot start around 1/125th or 1/160th for a start, you will have much better results.


Here's some examples of what I mean.

1/80th, notice the focal point is on the helmet and sharp while the majority of the surrounding area and bike is not.

http://www.rmutt.netfirms.com/Photos/potnandy1.jpg

1/200th, still acceptable motion blur but much more of the bike is in focus.

http://www.rmutt.netfirms.com/Photos/potnandy2.jpg

Cool shots, what lens did you use>?

I think the OP needs to know your using a camera with the pretty much the best AF system in world, paired with some good glass. It helps, but I know its not what gets the shot.

[R Mutt]

those were from early in the year with the 20D and 100-400. So average camera and focusing, good lens. ;)