Motorsport -- panning, SS & motion

[lambertpix]

Took this today, from 170 pics i had 12 keepers. It was my first go at motorsport panning, after taking tips from this thread.
I was using d7000 with a AF-S Nikkor 55-300 4.5-5.6. This was M 1/500 5.6 at 300mm, i had it on AF-C and went between 9 and 1 and even tried 3d but with little success.
Any c+c or tips would be great thanks Rob

It was taken at the NZ road race champs in Christchurch

I think the panning is mostly a matter of practice & technique -- balance your equipment well, and pan through your shot. The other thing to look for with bikes especially is to get on the inside of a turn if you can - you'll get a much better view of the rider, and if you shoot early, you might get some eye contact as the rider looks through the turn.

 

[Rags]

I'll go a step further...
Scope the track as soon as you get there and see how the sun hits the shooting sites you're interested in.

You can then guess where you should be shooting that day at a particular time - follow the light

Try not to shoot your subject in the shadow side

Panning is most successful when the subject is passing laterally across your frame

Rags

 

[Roba]

Lambertpix Ruapunna track is a left hand track which is impossible to get on a inside corner, unless you've got one of those special passes, but I do no what you mean about getting on the inside, and trying for a clear face.

Rags, I followed the whole track around trying to shoot straights and corners, so I feel I'm heading in the right direction with trying out plenty of different positions.

is there anything I could improve with the camera settings to help me out? Or is it purely technique?

Rob

 

[midgeman]

Thanks Rags, I did try a slower SS, but down to me and not the equipment, I just couldn't get a sharp pic worth keeping.
They were moving pretty quick at this spot 80-90mph and a good 30m's away.
But it was fun trying.

Practice practice practice. Did I mention practice? No matter how fast the car/motorcycle is traveling, 1/500 will always be way too much. Like others have said, try at least 1/250 or below. Since this was your first try it is ok, but you will need to be on the inside of the corner or looking down the straight to get the best shots.

Were you shooting burst mode or single?

 

[Roba]

Burst, but only 2-3 at a time.

 

[midgeman]

For shooting burst mode, 170 total shots seems REALLY small. Shoot until your memory card is full. I am very confident in my panning, but even in single mode I come home with thousands. The more you take the better chance you will have more keepers. Personally, I never use burst mode because 1)my camera is too slow so I miss the composition I want and 2)my panning motion gets shaky for some reason. What I do is find the composition I want, pre focus on that spot if needed, then wait for the car to start panning and snap the shutter just as it passes through my desired framing, one shot. Another thing I do for faster vehicles is to "think ahead" as they pass by. Otherwise I tend to miss the car or only have the rear in focus.

 

[Braineack]

I try to keep the headlight, or alike, fixed in a focus point of the viewfinder before clicking -- that way you know you're matching the speed.

End up with pretty good results that way:

 

[midgeman]

That might work for tighter framing and moderate shutterspeeds, but I don't think it would for something like this with a super slow SS and wide angle. This is where I must "think ahead" of the car.


Light Speed! by ImidgeryByKMidgett, on Flickr

 

[Roba]

170 total is small I admit, but I had a bit of a schoolboy error and only had that left on my card and no spare.
Lesson learnt! And thanks for the advice everybody.

Rob

 

[Rags]

Midgeman, that shot is a beauty

Rags

 

[Tailgunner]

Is this any better?

 

[Roba]

Sorry if it seems I'm Mr 20 questions, but are you all hand held? Or is anybody using a mono or tripod?

Rob

 

[12sndsgood]

Usually handheld. Sometimes I can use monopod but you have to be on a position where you can get a good pan with the monopod. Depending on your location and elevation it can be awkward to pAn with a monopod. Usually if I'm not on the same level as the car I won't use a monopod. Or if the track is changing elevations I won't use it.

 

[Braineack]

Is this any better?

isn't this the same thing you posted in #16? I believe it is, so no, it's not better than that exact same shot as before

 

[midgeman]

isn't this the same thing you posted in #16? I believe it is, so no, it's not better than that exact same shot as before

It's not the exact same thing. The SS looks a little slower with a little more motion in the wheels.

Is this any better?

For that, I'd say it's better. Keep lowering your SS and keep practicing. I'd also crop out that top portion where the grass ends.