Motorsport action & slower shutter speeds?

[paulhillion]

I posted some of these shots... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66894 on the FM forums and some of the replies stated that I was using too high a shutter speed as some of the shots seemed 'staged' & 'frozen'? They suggested next time to try using a slower shutter speed to get a feeling of movement into the shot. Can any of you motorsport shooters (I know there are lots of you) recommend what sort of speed I should be aiming for? Any other tips or advice would also be most welcome as I find myself really enjoying this area of photography.

Thanks.

[primoz]

I agree about those shoots (at least some of them) being "frozen". People usually think panning is something with 1/10 sec and with such slow times you can't do anything when subject is moving 100km/h. I agree but you can get decent panning with 1/200sec or even faster times too. So there's no general rule which time you should have to set to take photos of moto racing. I don't shoot moto sport much (except few rally and MX races every year) but it's not much different then any other sport. For skiing (usually I'm shooting with 300/2.8 ) I usually get nice pannings with times between 1/125 and 1/250sec. For cycling where I'm much closer and I use 16-35 or 28-70 lens times go much lower and for panning I usually shoot between 1/10 and 1/60sec.
So it depends on this how far from subject you are, what's focal lenght you are using and also what's speed of subject you are shooting. But only thing which will really let you know what time to use is experience. Try and yeah first few times you probably won't have any decent photo. Next time you will have 2, next time 5 and after few times you will know what to use. Digital is easy since you don't need to wait for films to come back to see you screwed up completely :)

[despot]

Paul, have a look at this thread ...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58417

[paulhillion]

Paul, have a look at this thread ...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58417
Thanks for that. Looks like practice, practice and more practice!

[KennyG]

Paul, as you will gather, too high a shutter speed is a no-no for motorpsort. Forget the panning for a moment, even head-on or three-quarter shots should not need more than 1/320 or 1/400. When it comes to panning, it is all down to how you want it to look. Yes, you can get good enough to go to 1/50, but for most people 1/250 or 1/160 will do just fine.

Get out of the habit of using burst mode. You need to aim to get single shots nailed 85% of the time. Burst mode has its uses, believe it or not off rather than on track. It is ideal for podium work where you are battling against other photogs flashes and it ups your chances of getting a shot without another's flash or the subject with eyes closed. Another use may be with your second camera, first corner, Legends or Clios, wide angle lens to get them piling into a gravel trap.

You are spot on when you say practice, that is exactly what it takes.

[PhotosGuy]

For now, if you can be there during practice, take some shots & chimp. ;-)

[Tom W]

For now, if you can be there during practice, take some shots & chimp. ;-)

That's a very good suggestion. Practice is the time to practice. :)

Doesn't hurt to study up on panning techniques just before you go out to practice either. When the ideas are fresh in your mind, you are more likely to remember them.

I did some NASCAR last week, and unfortunately used too high a shutter speed to get a good blur. I got minor background and tire blur, but I really needed to cut my shutter speed in half or by 1/4 to get the desired effect. Unfortunately, Bristol doesn't give much opportunity to hone ones skills while sitting in the stands. Next time, I'm spending more time on foot - and I'm using a slower shutter. :)