Hopefully found where I need to be

[Candie]

After days and days of searching for a fourm that can help me out with taking track day/race pics, hopefully I found a place to help me out.

First let me say I am new to taking photos. I know NOTHING... So any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

I have a Canon 30D camera body with a Canon EFS 18-55mm lens and also a Canon EF 75-300mm 4-5.6 III USM lens. I bought it as a package on e-bay a couple months ago. The main reason I bought the camera was to take pics at track days. I am a track day instructor and I also like taking pics of my students. So here I am. This is just a hobby so I don't want to spend a ton of money but I am willing to invest in a good quality lens to get good quality pics. I don't sell the pics or anything I post them up on my photobucket site and let the track day folks save them.

So my first question is what are some basics that I need to know?

Here is a link to some pics I look last weekend. Any pointers would be appreciated.


http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i125/CandieB72/Lone%20Star%20Track%20Days%20TWS%20June%202ist%202 009/

[andrewc]

Put it into TV mode, select a shutter speed of roughly 1/320
Adjust ISO to get a f stop of roughly f/8
Put it into AI Servo focussing mode
Choose a focus point rather than allowing it to decide.

And then practise.

Personally I prefer bikes if you can get them leaning towards you rather than away from you.

[Candie]

Thanks. That was my first time using my 30D at that track and I couldn't actaully get out on the track because I had to teach my advanced riders class. In a couple weeks I will in out in the infield during the CMRA races.

I have only been using the pre- set setting like auto, sports modes etc.... because I know nothing about setting up specific program settings. Do you know of a book, website anything I could get my hands on that will walk me through getting specific programs set up. Because sadly I have no idea what you just said here:

Put it into TV mode, select a shutter speed of roughly 1/320
Adjust ISO to get a f stop of roughly f/8
Put it into AI Servo focussing mode
Choose a focus point rather than allowing it to decide.

[andrewc]

I'm sure there are books.

Tv mode. Shutter Priority. You dictate the shutter speed, the camera sorts out other things. You want a shutter speed fast enough to record a sharp picture, but slow enough to give the wheels some motion blur

ISO - ISO is the sensativity of the sensor. Rated on a 30D from 100 to 1600. You want to adjust this to give a lens aperture of about f8 Higher ISO leads to noise so you want to minimise this.

AI Servo focussing is Canons system for tracking moving objects.

Focus point. 30D has 9 focus points. Camera can try to be clever by focusing on what it thinks you want it to which isn't always correct. By dictating which of the 9 points to use, you're in control.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Candie]

I have just about gotten to where I understand what you were trying to say, but I still do not understand how to set the right iso speed to shutter speed. I will search that out tomorrow. Thanks

[neil_r]

There are loads of pictures on here, look at them check the EXIF data if its there and if not post a question. Everyone here is pretty helpful. Find some pictures (on here) that you like and ask for tips. The key thing with this type of photography is practice practice practice, while that wont necessarily make perfect things really will improve. And don't be afraid to experiment, if the result of your experiment results in the print going in the bin rather than on the website you have still learned something. Happy to help with any specific questions you may have.

[PhotosGuy]

Panning Question (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=589433)

Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)