Panning (for gold)

[Ken Nielsen]

It is like striking gold when a panning shot is done right: Focus, speed, background blurred but subject is 'caught' in motion. I would like to know how professionals 'train' to do panning well.

Where I am with this is: I try to determine in advance what direction a sitting bird will take off in so I can start out by framing the subject with plenty of room to the anticipated take-off direction. I also have a video tripod which is dampened for steadiness which I believe helps in holding steady while panning. I wait for the bird to take off and then follow, zooming in for closer shots while the camera rattles off five or so shots until it stops because it needs time to process the images to the card. I bought a faster card but still the write time interrupts the flow of shots in continuous shooting.

My problem is, it all happens so fast, and I want to zoom in, I often lose the subject outside of the frame and then I become disoriented and need to look at the subject with my naked eye to see what direction it is going in... Out of five attempts I usually get two shots out of the 25 frames that are pretty good.

I would like to improve my numbers. I know there are shots I want to get: in five continuous shots the birds wings will move from up and down back to up about as many times as I am getting shots, about five times. I would like to increase my odds to obtaining all of the shots that are fired (accuracy.)

How can I improve my ability to follow birds in action and keep them in the frame?

Are there any exercises I should do? Or is it just a matter of time and practice the way I have been doing?

Thank You,

Ken

[Blue Deuce]

Birds traditionally take off and land into the wind.

Have somebody toss a Frisbee or football around the yard to hone your panning and focus acquisition skills.

[Ken Nielsen]

Great idea Blue Deuce. I'll absolutely take that advice.

Thanks,

Ken

[Maxis Gamez]

I used to practice with cars, motorcycles, planes and everything else. Get out there and practice.

[Ken Nielsen]

It makes sense to practice on moving objects. Also, today I practiced on birds, but zoomed out so I can try to keep them centered in the frame. As I get better I'll practice zooming in closer, step by step, until I am able to follow them while zoomed in.

Thanks Guys,

Ken

[Ken Nielsen]

I've been shooting football games, not the games, but the football. I find that with a 100-400 zoom I'm way better at getting the shot by starting a little zoomed out and then zooming in while getting the location of the moving object spotted. Does anyone else use this as a technique? Starting out full zoom is like asking to lose the object completely. The only danger with moving the zoom out is that the hand touching might make changes to the focus ring, even though AF servo would have stayed in effect, I think the hand touching the focus ring will throw focus off in a quick shooting situation and make AF servo null and void until the AF point is re-established.

Any comments on this?