Advice for a first timer.

[Revo]

So I've had a T2i for a few months now with a Canon 17-85mm and a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and have enjoyed my entrance into real photography. I shot my friends playing some airsoft and also took a trip to Badwater and Racetrack Playa in Death Valley.

This weekend I'm heading up to Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA for Moto GP, and I was hoping to get some shots.

I'm going to pick up a Canon 70-300mm IS USM with a Hood.

I'm just looking for some general tips in shooting motorsports (I have yet to take pictures of anything that fast moving). Should I use a Circular Polarizer, UV filter?

Thanks

[DC Fan]

Motorsports with a T2i and a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/racing/20100709a0058.jpg

http://www.kevinlillard.com/racing/20100630a0021.jpg


MotoGP with a XTi and a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/racing/20090829a0803.jpg

http://www.kevinlillard.com/racing/20090829a0826.jpg


For a first-timer: don't worry about settings, worry about framing. Find a place with a clear view of the racers where you can get the target in the center of the frame, filling as much of the frame as possible. Track the target all of the way to the point that you have it framed the way you want, then push the shutter button. Motorsports action photography is a lot like a golf swing. In both cases, smoothness and follow-through lead to a good shot.

For a first-timer, don't worry about filters, worry about framing and tracking the target. Don't worry about settings: put the camera in Program AE, Auto ISO and AI Servo constant tracking autofocus and Evaluative metering. For a first-timer, work on getting the bike in frame. Let the camera make the exposure choices while you work on learning how to track and capture the racers.

There are more elaborate and advanced techniques using shutter speed and framing and angles and settings and filters that you can learn after you have some experience with motorsports action photography. For a first attempt, just concentrate on getting the basics and getting decent images of the riders that fill the frame.

[sigma pi]

go practice on the street. That way your first panning shots are not at the race.

[Revo]

Motorsports with a T2i and a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens.

MotoGP with a XTi and a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens.

For a first-timer: don't worry about settings, worry about framing. Find a place with a clear view of the racers where you can get the target in the center of the frame, filling as much of the frame as possible. Track the target all of the way to the point that you have it framed the way you want, then push the shutter button. Motorsports action photography is a lot like a golf swing. In both cases, smoothness and follow-through lead to a good shot.

For a first-timer, don't worry about filters, worry about framing and tracking the target. Don't worry about settings: put the camera in Program AE, Auto ISO and AI Servo constant tracking autofocus and Evaluative metering. For a first-timer, work on getting the bike in frame. Let the camera make the exposure choices while you work on learning how to track and capture the racers.

There are more elaborate and advanced techniques using shutter speed and framing and angles and settings and filters that you can learn after you have some experience with motorsports action photography. For a first attempt, just concentrate on getting the basics and getting decent images of the riders that fill the frame.

Those are some great shots (and great advice, thank you).

Even more encouraging to see it's with the same setup as I plan to use.

Which Moto GP race was that?

[Chris Weller]

Revo,

I wish I had see this before Saturday. Below is a link to an article I wrote on motorsports panning. Hope it helps in the future.

Chris

http://www.thephotoargus.com/tips/an-introduction-to-panning-in-motorsports/

[garyark]

Its fun to slow your shutter speed to 1/15th and horizontally pan as they pass in front of you.

[Revo]

Revo,

I wish I had see this before Saturday. Below is a link to an article I wrote on motorsports panning. Hope it helps in the future.

Chris

http://www.thephotoargus.com/tips/an-introduction-to-panning-in-motorsports/

I was able to read the article while I was up at the event. It helped quite a bit. Thanks!

Here's one of the better shots I got while I was up there.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5457/img1996copy.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/img1996copy.jpg/)