How to take Panning Shots ?

[mangaloreaviators]

Hello All,

I'm learning to take Panning Shots with my XTI-18-55IS Lens. Could you please advice on how should I start ?

[ryant35]

Start with Tv mode and 1/250 sec and follow your subject and shoot a burst. Pick a spot and keep one of your focus points on that spot.
As you get better lower your shutter speed.

You can't shoot much as for motor sports with the 18-55 maybe cars on the street to practice.

[mangaloreaviators]

Hello Ryant,

Thank you for the responce.

So here is my setting that I need to choose.

ISO- Depending on the Situation
Shutter Speed -1/250 Sec in TV Mode
Continious Shoot Mode
AF- AI Servo

Set up a Tripod and mark a position where my subject will pass and track the Subjects from a distance where I can get a clear shot and keep clicking till my subjects passes through a point which I marked for reference.


I hope i'm correct here.

[ryant35]

Hello Ryant,

Thank you for the responce.

So here is my setting that I need to choose.

ISO- Depending on the Situation
Shutter Speed -1/250 Sec in TV Mode
Continious Shoot Mode
AF- AI Servo

Set up a Tripod and mark a position where my subject will pass and track the Subjects from a distance where I can get a clear shot and keep clicking till my subjects passes through a point which I marked for reference.


I hope i'm correct here.

That all looks good to me. ISO 100 is best unless it's getting dark or it's overcast. When you shoot with such a slow shutter speed with bright sunlight your camera uses a very small aperature f/9-f/14 or smaller. This will show all if any sensor dust.

Also I don't usually use a tripod, but I do use a monopod with large L glass but only on the lens collar mount. I find it hard to control when it's mounted on the body. So I think you should try it with and with out the tripod. Once you get the hang of it, you don't need the extra support.

Example:
Hand held, Tv mode, 1/100sec, iso 100, f/25
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/ryant35/IMG_1079-1.jpg

[mangaloreaviators]

Thanks Ryant,

I will give that a try today and see how that works. Will post some pictures shortly.

[SkipD]

..... follow your subject and shoot a burst.My experienced opinion - forget the "machine-gun" mode ever existed on your camera, at least for this exercise in learning. When panning go for a single exposure that is properly timed and controlled for exposure.

Shooting auto racing is an excellent place to use manual exposure mode and even locked focus.

Why the manual exposure? It's simple. The meter in your camera, if left to its own "thinking", would change the exposure for each different color of shade of car going by. The background would look different for each of those shots. By using manual exposure mode and YOU choosing the exposure setting combination, you can keep all of your shots looking the same (and all properly exposed).

Why locked (or manual) focus? When panning a series of cars (or whatever) coming through a particular place on the track, it's often easier to pre-focus on a spot on the track that you've determined produces the kind of action from the car that you're looking to turn into an image. Then, you can shoot a whole string of cars coming past that spot and triggering the shutter just as the car is arriving at your pre-chosen spot.

There are a lot of old tricks in the bags carried by us old farts, and none of them involve automation of cameras. I used to do a lot of car and motorcycle racing photography before auto exposure and auto focus were even invented.

[PhotosGuy]

Why the manual exposure? It's simple. How the subject affects the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free: Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)
First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO. Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123) Why locked (or manual) focus? We used to do that a lot with manual lenses. But AI Servo works well, too. Stay away from AI Focus.

Read this, & the links you find in it:
Advice needed for Rally shooting (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=292705)

[Croasdail]

Just try to get your shutter speed as low as possible (less the 1/100, 1/60 or slower is awesome). Like mentioned, adjust ISO as low as possible and stop down. Use a Neutral Density filter if needed. And just track the subject swinging in a smooth motion. It is amazingly easy once you figure it out.

[neil_r]

I also do not use burst mode for this type of shot, single well timed exposures are the way to go (for me)

Film (great days)
http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/MotoGP_Donington_2001_001.jpg

Digital
http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/Mallory_March_08_s_NHR0180.jpg

[mattograph]

All excellent advise.

Two things I try to remember --

Pan through the shot -- track your target for a bit through the sweet spot. Like hunting birds, if you stop tracking the bird when you fire, you miss behind. In the case of panning sports, you introduce a little motion blur into the subject, and lose your intended location in the frame. I alway fire a last frame of the rear of the car -- it will be most likely useless, but to get there, my camera never stopped moving.

Check you IS settings. Shooting in Mode 1 for horizonally moving objects can produce some odd results in my experience, and you won't notice them in your tft in many instances. At the super slow shutter speeds of 1/60th of a second, where the pros live, it can mutilate a photo. At least with my 70-200 it can.

[dolfinack]

But AI Servo works well, too. Stay away from AI Focus.

oooh I've been using that. Why stay away? Why use Servo instead? Maybe a noob question but there it is... :confused:

[mangaloreaviators]

@Skip Douglas

I will try to 2 types of procedure.

Type 1
ISO- Depending on the Situation
Shutter Speed -1/250 Sec in TV Mode
Continious Shoot Mode
AF- AI Servo

Type 2
Mode-Manual
ISO-Dependiing on situation.
Shutter Speed-1/250 to start and will try to reduce the Speed like 1/125, 1/60,1/30 :)
Aperture-least that my 18-55 will go that is F4 and will try to F11 and so on.
NO Continious Mode but will be ONE SHOT

@Photosguy
While taking Manual-Will try AISERVO and ONE SHOT, will see what is the difference.

@Crossdail
Will try the Shutter speed that you suggested.

@Mattograph-will see 1/60 in my first panning shot.

Thank you very much everybody. The Forum is simply Great :)

[PhotosGuy]

oooh I've been using that. Why stay away? Why use Servo instead? If the shots you get are focused where you want them & sharp, then keep using what works. A lot of people, including pro Sportsshooters, have complained about their results with it. Here's a test series starting with post #12 using AI Servo. It gives me consistent results:
70-200 f/2.8 & 2X TC combination "Test" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=444369)

[mangaloreaviators]

Hello All,

I have posted the pictures in my blog
http://mangaloreaviator.blogspot.com/

Please have a check and give me feedback.

Thank you everybody in helping me learning Panning Tech

[mangaloreaviators]

No feedback for me :(

[ryant35]

You off to a good start. It looks like your shutter speed is too slow for starting off. Try starting faster, and use the slowest shutter speed you can and actually keep you subject sharp. Chiping comes in handy, and zoom in on the car to make sure it is sharp.No feedback for me :(

[mangaloreaviators]

Thanks Ryant,

I'm trying this all of using a 18-55IS Lens. But will try few more shots with in 2 days and post again.

[ryant35]

Thanks Ryant,

I'm trying this all of using a 18-55IS Lens. But will try few more shots with in 2 days and post again.

I've tried panning with my wide angle, 17-40mm f/4 L and it's tough. Try getting closer.

[big_apple_ken]

Here's my attempt at panning today:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2526101951_7f4bbcaf85.jpg?v=0

Not the most successful but at least the car was in focus...haha. Probably should have zoomed in more. Anyway, I had a quick question, when you pan are you:

A) Running alongside the subject
B) Almost making yourself seem like a monopod and rotating clockwise/anti-clockwise to follow the subject

I did more so the latter. I tried the keep the subject around the same area in the frame but I am curious whether distance between you and the subject during the panning period makes a difference. If the subject is traveling in a straight line perpendicular to the photog, by rotating to follow the subject he is in a way changing the distance between the camera and the subject slightly when panning. Does this not the correct technique to pan?

[Foxgguy2001]

I wouldnt see running along side, the bouncing would throw off the capture, Looks like you did just fine on the above, aside from the zoom.

[ryant35]

Here's my attempt at panning today:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2526101951_7f4bbcaf85.jpg?v=0

Not the most successful but at least the car was in focus...haha. Probably should have zoomed in more. Anyway, I had a quick question, when you pan are you:

A) Running alongside the subject
B) Almost making yourself seem like a monopod and rotating clockwise/anti-clockwise to follow the subject

I did more so the latter. I tried the keep the subject around the same area in the frame but I am curious whether distance between you and the subject during the panning period makes a difference. If the subject is traveling in a straight line perpendicular to the photog, by rotating to follow the subject he is in a way changing the distance between the camera and the subject slightly when panning. Does this not the correct technique to pan?

Defiantly not running with your subject. It's always easy when your subject is perpendicular with you and moving on flat ground, and of course panning with a monopod is best especially when you are just starting out.

Handheld, 1/100sec. Try not to start with too slow of a shutter speed.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/ryant35/IMG_1079-1.jpg

[fubarhouse]

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/ryant35/IMG_1079-1.jpg

Sorry to interrupt, but I have to say that is a brilliant panning shot, congrats!!
As for panning, use Tv mode, and anywhere from 1/50" - 1/250" or maybe higher depends on how fast the subject is (increase shutter). I suggest AI Servo & High Speed Continuous (6fps). IS mode 2 if applicable but in your case it isn't, and aim and fire! :D

You could always try it in M :P

[gdrMatt]

keep practicing :)

[DC Fan]

Playing around at practice for a kart enduro race. Shutter priority 1/100:

http://www.fansview.com/racing/09272008a0566.jpg

A cluttered background can enhance the sense of motion in these shots better than a clean background.

[ryant35]

Yes the busy background helps, 1/80 sec.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/ryant35/CORR%20CV%202-2/IMG_2562.jpg