How can I take a photo of a moving subject...

[Salma]

... with a blurred background but the subject in full focus, for instance a man riding a bike at a very fast speed, or a car even.

I can't seem to get it right, all my images come out blurred.

[-MasterChief-]

1/50th or slower, AI Servo, and a good panning technique.

[Salma]

1/50th or slower, AI Servo, and a good panning technique.
Panning technique?

[S.Horton]

You need to learn to pan.

Here's one link on that -- pretty good.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4449620_pan-photography.html

Basically, you'll set up a tripod, then swivel the camera on the subject as it passes.

It can be done handheld or with a monopod, too, but it is harder to get consistency.

Oh, and I practiced many times before I could get something nice and, even then, the rate of success for me is maybe 1 in 3 frames.

Enjoy!

[Salma]

You need to learn to pan.

Here's one link on that -- pretty good.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4449620_pan-photography.html

Basically, you'll set up a tripod, then swivel the camera on the subject as it passes.

It can be done handheld or with a monopod, too, but it is harder to get consistency.

Oh, and I practiced many times before I could get something nice and, even then, the rate of success for me is maybe 1 in 3 frames.

Enjoy!
If you don't mind can I see a photo you've taken please? :o

[FlyingPhotog]

Salma...

Have a gander at this thread... (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=325181&highlight=panning)

[Salma]

Salma...

Have a gander at this thread... (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=325181&highlight=panning)
Thanks alot, i'm gonna check that out.

[S.Horton]

Sure.

But I warn you, I love motion blur, so I have no 'perfect' panning shots.

http://midnightblue.smugmug.com/photos/207780779_FNzFY-L.jpg

http://midnightblue.smugmug.com/photos/357495333_8kwZF-L.jpg

http://midnightblue.smugmug.com/photos/210974414_myuto-L.jpg

Those were hand-held. The last shot is NOT mine, but I assure you it is posted with permission. (@Mods that's from PACACE)

For the best you can see, go to this link:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=325181&highlight=best+panning+shots

[Salma]

That's so cool, that second one is awesome man, I need to take a shot like that for my test paper, i'm scared of going wrong.

[-MasterChief-]

Panning takes a lot of patience, timing, and practice. follow Sam's advice, he is pretty much dead on! :) i wish my panning technique could be half as good as yours Sam, those are excellent samples!

[Salma]

Panning takes a lot of patience, timing, and practice. follow Sam's advice, he is pretty much dead on! :) i wish my panning technique could be half as good as yours Sam, those are excellent samples!
Do you have a panning picture? I can't believe I didn't think of doing this before, it looks so cool :o

[S.Horton]

Chill. You'll be fine. Go set up @ f/8, 1/15th to 1/30th of a second SS, then sit by a road and shoot about a hundred frames.

;}

[-MasterChief-]

let me see if i can dig one up for ya ...

[Salma]

Chill. You'll be fine. Go set up @ f/8, 1/15th to 1/30th of a second SS, then sit by a road and shoot about a hundred frames.

;}
You know roads in England are small right? Maybe I should sit really far away from the road hahaa... that's my task for tomorrow and when I do it i'll post the outcome :D
let me see if i can dig one up for ya ...
Cool :D

[-MasterChief-]

i thought i had one in my photobucket account, but alas, not there. i have to dig it in my archives, and believe me ... its not worthy! :p

[FlyingPhotog]

Sometimes, you pan with a subject to negate motion:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/110433507/original.jpg

[Salma]

i thought i had one in my photobucket account, but alas, not there. i have to dig it in my archives, and believe me ... its not worthy! :p
Oh no :(
Sometimes, you pan with a subject to negate motion:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/110433507/original.jpg
That's so cool :eek:

[DC Fan]

First you need to find a sprint car and a half-mile dirt track.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-05-21b-0535.jpg

Select a slower shutter speed than usual. Set the lens so the object fills much of the frame, but leaves enough space to show plenty of background. As the target passes your view, keep it centered in the frame. At first, try setting the camera for continuous shooting, and review the images to see which ones have the right combination of a sharp subject and blurred background.

Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Focal Length: 120.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0050 s (1/200)
Aperture: f/14.0
ISO equiv: 200
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

[Salma]

DC fan, thanks for posting the settings that helps alot :)

What's the metering mode though?

[PhotosGuy]

Do you have a panning picture? A few threads of them are linked here:
Panning Question (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=589433)

[Salma]

A few threads of them are linked here:
Panning Question (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=589433)
Thankyou :D

[hollis_f]

As others have said - practice.

I went to a track day at Goodwood today where my friend was taking his car out for a few laps. I've never tried shoting like this before and, at the start of the day, all my shots were rubbish. Most of them didn't have the whole car in the frame, some didn't even have a bit of the car visible.

But, by the end of the day I was able to take shots of him getting up to 100 mph with a shutter speed of just 1/60th second. There's still room for improvement, but he's quite happy with the results...

http://www.frankhollis.com/temp/Goodwood001.jpg

[qnet]

My handheld panning effort with a 350D and 55-200 zoom on sport preset.
(hope the attatachment works!)

[Salma]

As others have said - practice.

I went to a track day at Goodwood today where my friend was taking his car out for a few laps. I've never tried shoting like this before and, at the start of the day, all my shots were rubbish. Most of them didn't have the whole car in the frame, some didn't even have a bit of the car visible.

But, by the end of the day I was able to take shots of him getting up to 100 mph with a shutter speed of just 1/60th second. There's still room for improvement, but he's quite happy with the results...

http://www.frankhollis.com/temp/Goodwood001.jpg
WOW that's pretty cool I like it :D

[birdfromboat]

I am also a struggling panner. I don't like using traffic on a public road, but any kind of racetrack, popular bicycle trail, horse arena, etc should offer lots of repetitive passes at similar speeds. One thing I have discovered that helps me get the right panning speed handheld is to practice the swing without a subject, just standing there rotating at the waist thinking about the muscle groups and trying to keep the camera and my shoulders pointed at the 'subject' I will be shooting. Several repitions will help me be more fluid for the actual shot.

[-MasterChief-]

another thing that will help you perfect your panning technique is IS. if you have IS, set it to Mode 2. this mode negates horizontal shake and only corrects vertical.

[Salma]

I am also a struggling panner. I don't like using traffic on a public road, but any kind of racetrack, popular bicycle trail, horse arena, etc should offer lots of repetitive passes at similar speeds. One thing I have discovered that helps me get the right panning speed handheld is to practice the swing without a subject, just standing there rotating at the waist thinking about the muscle groups and trying to keep the camera and my shoulders pointed at the 'subject' I will be shooting. Several repitions will help me be more fluid for the actual shot.
I'm practicing everyday, it's so difficult. Have you any shots?
another thing that will help you perfect your panning technique is IS. if you have IS, set it to Mode 2. this mode negates horizontal shake and only corrects vertical.
How does 'Mode 2' work?

[krb]

I'm practicing everyday, it's so difficult. Have you any shots?

How does 'Mode 2' work?
Like he said, "this mode negates horizontal shake and only corrects vertical."

[Salma]

Like he said, "this mode negates horizontal shake and only corrects vertical."
Sorry, I meant how do you select mode 2 :o

Sorry for sounding dumb :o

[krb]

Sorry, I meant how do you select mode 2 :o

Sorry for sounding dumb :o
If your lens has this mode available then there will be a switch on the side, near the switch to turn the IS on and off.

[Salma]

Ah ok thanks, i'll check that :D

[-MasterChief-]

^^ if it doesnt have a switch, then it has the newer IS, which means it will automatically switch to Mode 2 when it detects panning.

[Salma]

Oh wow ok, awesome... are there any lenses that are sepcific for this sort of photography?

[DC Fan]

Examples of the impact of shutter speeds on panning shots.

From the Indianapolis 500 at the end of the 230-mile-per-hour main stretch. Tomas Scheckter two minutes apart. First image from a Tamron 18-200mm at 1/4000. Second image from a Canon 70-300mm IS at 1/250.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-05-24-1472a.jpg

http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-05-24-1564a.jpg

That's a piece of fence in the second image. It doesn't move.

Canon image stabilizer lenses, with single-axis "Mode 2" stabilization, can be useful for panning. However, it's most useful to develop the technique through practice. You need to develop of swiveling the entire body to follow a target smoothly, and experiment to find the optimal shutter speed. It helps to spend lots of time at fast racetracks where you need to pan to get any kind of shot.

[Salma]

DC fan, thanks so much for posting those shots with so much detail :)

Second image looks fantastic, I hope mine turn out like that, I am still practicing will post the photos when i'm done:D

[FlyingPhotog]

Great side by side comparison DC...