First and Second panning attempts....

[Shadowbox]

Lots to learn. Fun though. All shot with 350D and 24-105mm IS.

1st try. Cars from 2008 Kruise of Klamath (Klamath Falls, Oregon) Poker Run.

1) 1/100s f/18.0 at 55.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100497541/large.jpg

2) 1/100s f/10.0 at 45.0mm iso100

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100497549/large.jpg

3) 1/100s f/16.0 at 55.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/image/100497546/large.jpg


Second time out. SCCA San Diego TART solo practice day. Definitely learned that backlighting is not my friend at this point.

4) 1/100s f/20.0 at 105.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100776506/large.jpg

5) 1/160s f/16.0 at 105.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100776511/large.jpg

6) 1/160s f/14.0 at 105.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100776513/large.jpg

7) 1/200s f/14.0 at 105.0mm iso200

Die cones, Die!!
http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100776515/large.jpg

#8 1/200s f/14.0 at 105.0mm iso200

http://www.pbase.com/shadow_box/image/100776519/large.jpg



C+C and Tips always appreciated. Thanks for looking.

Glenn

[13inches]

You've got the theory down, just slow down the shutter speeds to really get that blur in the background that's desired. There's just not enough of it in these shots. Check out the "post your best pan" thread to see what I mean.

[fubarhouse]

I agree with 13inches,
you've got your shutter too fast for the speed they're going, try a slower shutter - 1/50 should do it well, if not try 1/30. basically the faster the car goes, the faster your shutter goes - not exceeding 1/200. :) Hope this helps.

edit: #4 looks good for motion blur, but still needs a slower shutter. :)

[Jamie Holladay]

The Kruise of Klamat shots are the best. I think you did a fine job for your first attempt. As the others said dropping your shutter speed will give you more sense of motion. Keep it up, nice job.

[Shadowbox]

Thanks for the feedback. Definitely appreciated.

With regards to shutter speed, is there a guideline for what shutter speed to use depending on speed of vehicle or is it more just experience behind the camera and skill in panning that lets you get the right shutter?


Glenn

[tim721]

Thanks for the feedback. Definitely appreciated.

With regards to shutter speed, is there a guideline for what shutter speed to use depending on speed of vehicle or is it more just experience behind the camera and skill in panning that lets you get the right shutter?


Glenn

I found that its trial and error, aslong as you get out there and keep shooting and experimenting with shutter speed, i mean change it about through a days shooting until you find what speed that gives you the results you want. You will soon get the hang of what speed you need and when.

Tim

[elysium]

I would say the way I found it to work well is plant your feet firmly on the ground and when tracking your subject, rotate your hips keeping your elbows tucked in. Should let you slow down to about 1/25 and keep focus without any issues.

Good attempt :)

[Joffan]

The problem being with those shots is that at the end of the day you're trying to make a carpark full of cones look attractive...

[Shadowbox]

Tim and Elysium, thanks for the tips. Will keep those in mind next time out.


The problem being with those shots is that at the end of the day you're trying to make a carpark full of cones look attractive...

Point taken. Just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to work on technique, even if in a less than desirable location. Eventually I am sure I will have the chance to go to a more aesthetic and proper circuit, but until then, I should take what I can get. No?


Glenn

[elysium]

Tim and Elysium, thanks for the tips. Will keep those in mind next time out.




Point taken. Just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to work on technique, even if in a less than desirable location. Eventually I am sure I will have the chance to go to a more aesthetic and proper circuit, but until then, I should take what I can get. No?


Glenn
Agreed. Practice until your technique is correct. Then you can worry about composition and using different focus points. There is no point of trying to do it all at once, panning requires plenty of practice and thinking in advance about where your subject will be going etc so until ready, I say you are going the right way.

[justincase724]

The problem being with those shots is that at the end of the day you're trying to make a carpark full of cones look attractive...

That's always a hard thing to pull off, especially down there at Qualcomm as there's always some mess in the background. One thing you can do to make the shots more interesting is to zoom in closer on the action, and get the shots where you've got something more exciting than just a car going straight. Entrances to hard corners when they're lifting a rear tire are always good. You're off to a good start though.

[Jamie Holladay]

Point taken. Just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to work on technique, even if in a less than desirable location. Eventually I am sure I will have the chance to go to a more aesthetic and proper circuit, but until then, I should take what I can get. No?


Glenn
Glenn, there is nothing wrong with shooting AutoX. Someone has to do it and do it well. What aggravates me about people that I know that shoot AutoX is that the shutter speed is so high that when I see a shot of my car it looks like I am parked in a gate or next to the slalom that I am negeotiating. I will have to sorta agree with shadowbox, that is it difficult to get a good compostition on an AutoX course. It can be done. You just have to look around, find the best place to shoot to avoid a cone being between you and the car, with the cleanest background or a background that tells a story about where the event is held. AutoX is also a great place to practice. I do a lot of practicing in the run groups that I am not a part of. Take advantage of that opportunity to perfect your technique so that when you do go to a track you'll have a better chance of great shots. Besides you might get so good a AutoX you could pick up a few bucks from the participants.

[NTHEWIND]

Jamie:

What you said about AutoX is interesting. I did an AutoX in Bowling Green,Ky last year at an event called ZFest, an event for Z06 Corvettes.
I noticed first thing that when I panned the camera and it blurred a cone the image just didn't look right. But I think you need a cone to show 'subject' or 'location' for lack of better term. I found that if I held the camera, didn't pan used just enough slow shutter to show motion in the tires and then set AV kind of shallow I did get some background blur.
If I was going to do it again believe it or not I'd bring a tripod, find a good spot and work the camera settings.

[GrahamS]

Thanks for the feedback. Definitely appreciated.

With regards to shutter speed, is there a guideline for what shutter speed to use depending on speed of vehicle or is it more just experience behind the camera and skill in panning that lets you get the right shutter?


Glenn

speed of vehicle, and distance from it.

The good thing about motorsport is that most of the cars will be taking the same line through a corner, at the same speed. so snap the first one at 100th and then see what it looks like. not blurry enough then slow it down.

and once you have it, then you can take 50 shots that all look the same:p (says the man who's just deleted 49 shots....)


there is also a personal preference of object sharpness to background blur. I prefer a really sharp car, with a bit of blur to prove it was moving - much like the first ones in your set.

[Taity]

As a rule of thumb.. unless you have F1 cars passing you at speed, work on 1/160th to start with, get your technique drilled in (remember that "snapping" the shutter button can also affect a slow shutter speed pan, so press very gently) and start playing around.. 1/40th is possible, but your keeper rate will be significantly lower.