British Grand Prix - yuk!

I took this photo of Rubens Barrichello qualifying for the Grand Prix at Silverstone on Saturday.

Ignore the 'clutter', but I'd like to know how I could reduce the grainyness?

Any advice?

http://chardyboy.fotop​ic.net/photo.php?o=1&i​d=835918

Dave

What ISO setting were you using? I almost NEVER take mine off of ISO 50.

Are you asking how you can get rid of the graininess in post-processing?

John

Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Photo Effect Mode
Vivid
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/2000
Av( Aperture Value )
5.6
Metering Mode
Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
7.2 - 28.8mm
Focal Length
17.6mm
Digital Zoom
None
Image Size
1600x1200
Image Quality
Superfine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF Mode
Single AF
Drive Mode
Continuous shooting(Speed priority)

ISO speed 400. Don't think you need to look further for your graininess.

If that was after the finish line, you were probably lucky he was driving so slow, and in which case you could have possibly done with 1/1000ths and ISO 1-200 and it would look better.

As for post-processing, you can monkey with it, but you can't do much with what's not there.

Was the race car parked there on the track? It sure looks like it is. If it was actually moving, then you should have used a SLOWER shutter speed, contrary to what you've read elsewhere. The problem with using a very high shutter speed is that it freezes the action, which is not necessarily what you want to do, especially when photographing fast racing cars and motorcycles. What you want to do is use a slower shutter speed, like 1/250, and then pan the camera to follow the car. Press the shutter fully while still panning and follow through, just like in golfing. This way, the background will have a lateral motion blur, the tires will really look like it's turning (i.e. the tire brand name is a streak of white) but the car or bike will be relatively sharp and in focus.

With the lower shutter speed, you shouldn't need a very high ISO setting, either and that'll take care of your "grainy" problem.

I agree with PacAce, a slower shutter speed would be better. The photo is also overexposed but I suppose you know that.

Here's a pic I took at the 2001 USGP using the panning technique that PacAce mentions (the camera was a Nikon CP950).

http://home.austin.rr.​com …/Pics/Misc/Ales​i-2113.jpg


B

Hi,

Interesting comments from all.

I often visit track days/events here in the UK -does anyone know of any good websites etc. on how to take good shots at these events/action photography?

Chardyboy: just an idea (I'm a novice!): unless you are severely restricted on storage space, I would seriously consider increasing the camera resolution to Superfine 2272x1704.

In addition to offering greater resolution, a larger image can be more effectively cropped which you could use to cut out unwanted artefacts in the pictures e.g. fencing, people etc.

Whilst I'm on the topic! Does anyone think that a tripod would seriously assist shots such as this?

Thanks all, Paul.

I do not think a tripod would help, but you may improve using a monopod lining up the track and practising panning, helps when using a telephoto lens.

For panning with motion, I find the optical viewer the best, as my whole body moves with the camera. Of course if you have a teleconverter mounted, the optical is mostly blocked.

Unless you have a good pan head on your tripod, you may find a jerky head plus the little LCD display frustrating while trying to follow a moving subject.

ISO 400 is the problem! It is completely useless on the G3. I've used ISO 200 in very few situations, but the photos came out too noisy still.

The photo also looks out-of-focus and badly over exposed, it was somewhat overcast at Silvertone on Saturday so I am not sure where such hard highlights are coming from.

Any particular reason why you had your camera set on Vivid? You can always add saturation in Photoshop. Sharpening + Saturation in camera tends to produce more JPEG artifacts, clip the highlights, badning etc. A whole lot of problems.

I made the biggest mistake so far - I left my 1Gb card at home in the card reader and only had a couple of 32Mb cards! What a plonker eh?!

Due to the limited view, I was shooting on continuous mode and taking about 7 or 8 photos to get one of the car at that point on the track! Fine for the first couple but tedious to keep deleting the 'blank' ones between the cars, especially with only a small card.

I have found that even reviewing the photos on the LCD, it is not until you get home and start looking on a 21" monitor that you notice the imperfections. After the first couple of shots I just gave up and decided I ought to go to some lesser sporting events specifically to take photos and experiment.

Thanks for all your advice - it's much appreciated and maybe next year........

Cheers

Dave