1/4 mile track

[kyleturbo]

Went to the track last week to try to improve on some track shots. It in the middle of the day of course, not a cloud in the the sky. Most of the shots of darker colored cars didnt turn out to my liking. The light colored cars were better. I shot in al servo/partial metering mode. Also F2.8 to try to blur the background.

Is there a better way to shoot for better results? Where would you meter off of? I usually tried to meter off of anything neutral colored on the car.

Here are a couple. These 2 were the part the better bunch of shots, but all of the shots looked close to the same.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p291/kyleturbo/turbo-s2000.jpg?t=1205043408

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p291/kyleturbo/dsm.jpg?t=1205043828

[Dawid]

Nice shots. If you want to try pans, try turning off AI servo and picking your focus point on the track in advance since you know where they will be.

What do you drive?

[kyleturbo]

I tried a couple panning shots. I didnt go it the way you mention. Now, I want to try it to see the difference. I basically had it on servo mode and followed the car down the track until it was where I wanted the shot. Worked ok, need to practice.

I used to be into DSMs(had a few)...still am(just don't have any). Tacoma for me now.

[Jim M]

Nice shots. If you want to try pans, try turning off AI servo and picking your focus point on the track in advance since you know where they will be.
Why turn off AI servo?

[Dawid]

Why turn off AI servo?


Cars at the drag strip can be moving pretty fast, and picking your focus point in advance (with your camera on AI focus), and then pan and follow the car to that pre-selected point. This only applies if you are using the shutter button for your AF.


I am not an expert, but this works well for me.

[Dawid]

I used to be into DSMs(had a few)...still am(just don't have any). Tacoma for me now.


I've driven a few fast DSMs, they are fun little cars. I am selling my Celica All Trac now, but it was my little DSM (and cash) eater. :lol:

It was a ton of fun, and it's a 13 second car now, but it's time for a new project.

[Zilly]

I tried a couple panning shots. I didnt go it the way you mention. Now, I want to try it to see the difference. I basically had it on servo mode and followed the car down the track until it was where I wanted the shot. Worked ok, need to practice.

I used to be into DSMs(had a few)...still am(just don't have any). Tacoma for me now.

post some examples I have a feeling A1 wont be at falt used to get fine pans with me 350d

[spoogenhatch]

I tried a couple panning shots. I didnt go it the way you mention. Now, I want to try it to see the difference. I basically had it on servo mode and followed the car down the track until it was where I wanted the shot. Worked ok, need to practice.

I used to be into DSMs(had a few)...still am(just don't have any). Tacoma for me now.

as in tacoma,wa??

[tonylong]

I tried a couple panning shots. I didnt go it the way you mention. Now, I want to try it to see the difference. I basically had it on servo mode and followed the car down the track until it was where I wanted the shot. Worked ok, need to practice.

I used to be into DSMs(had a few)...still am(just don't have any). Tacoma for me now.

I emphathize! I'm hoping to get into some local racing venues this year (I've never been to one, much less photographed one) and am trying to learn in this forum, and I've been doing some panning practice, but I know this can be a difficult endeavor!

I'd say that your background is a distraction. That and your high shutter speed combines to make it look like the cars are just sitting still in a busy place.

If you can, try to catch the cars in a more isolated position, with some better contrast with the car bodies. Plus, work on the panning! A slow shutter speed of 1/100 sec or slower will really help to show us that those cars are speeding along and will really blur that background!

[Zilly]

slow shutter speed of 1/100 sec or slower
1/100th of a second is guna be pushing it

this is 1/200th of a second and is right on the limit for a 13.5 dial in
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/1855696774_fdf79c55e3_o.jpg

[Madweasel]

... It in the middle of the day of course, not a cloud in the the sky. Most of the shots of darker colored cars didnt turn out to my liking. The light colored cars were better...
If there were no clouds in the sky then the light wasn't changing. In those conditions, your best bet would have been to meter off some grass or other neutral surface and dial-in that setting in Manual mode and leave it there. This is the equivalent of using a handheld meter and measuring incident light (do that if you have a handheld meter). Then your dark cars would come out fine.