Powersports photography

y75stingray · Feb 26, 2014

So I'm a commercial photographer by trade and can shoot very well in studio. However I have very little experience shooting in a photojournalistic style and am trying to improve as I have many hobbies that include toys with engines. Lately I have been trying to work on panning and was hoping I could get some pointers for this technique and any other sports techniques I might want to try.Ive included some images so you can see where I currently stand in this feild of photography "yes I know they are not expertly shot" but it should help in reference to where i need to improve.

The first two were shot in AV mode auto focus set at servo low ISO with a 70-200 lens. The other three in TV mode with a high shutter speed 1000 I think low ISO servo focus. any suggestions would be appreciated!

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y75stingray · Mar 4, 2014

Well, I was able to find enough info in various threads to put together a decent plan for shooting.

The biggest problem I ended up facing was it was so bright I had trouble keeping my shutter speed fast enough with my lens at a desirable aperture while trying to pan. I ended up shooting right around s.s. 160 ap 5.6 and iso of 100. I really enjoyed myself shooting action and I think I will make a habit of doing it more often!

lambertpix · Mar 4, 2014

I like #1 in the second set. I've never shot snowmobiles, but I'd guess it's a lot like BMX / motocross-type shots. If you catch a lot of flying snow, you're going to have a good sense of speed regardless of any panning. Watch out for distracting bkgds -- the houses & docks in the first set are probably great if you're trying to sell lakefront property, but they take away from the snowmobile action, IMO. I think the airborne sled with all that flying snow might have been cool if you could've isolated the subject more and gotten in a little tighter. If you take that shot from down low and nail the sled with nothing but blue sky behind him, you'd never know it was taken on a frozen lake (ok, that might be a little optimistic, but you get the idea).

y75stingray · Mar 4, 2014

I totally agree, the biggest thing i learned from my first trip out was different elevations are key. Doing that on a flat lake is super difficult, that's why on the next trip out I decided to shoot on some hillsides it made one hell of a difference. I'm hoping I can build a jump on a hillside in the future and get the type of shots you're talking about.

KmH · Mar 4, 2014

For panning your stance and how you hold the camera are both critical.

Left hand under the lens/camera body palm up to support the weight of the camera/lens.
Keep your upper arms in against your torso.
One foot somewhat forward and which foot is forward is determined by which direction you will pan.
Pan from the back foot side to the forward foot side and pan at the waist
So if you want to pan from left to right, your left foot should be back and your right foot somewhat forward.
Reverse your feet to pan right to left.

ratssass · Mar 4, 2014

I just went through 400-500 shots I took at a drag race lace year.I'm still not impressed with any of them.I did come away with a few of the same conclusions that I did when I got home last year.Snow in the air is way more exciting than not.I think I can panning is easier achieved when the object travels in a predictable path.When the subject is moving left to right (or vice-versa) smoothly,its easy to track (or at least,easier).When its moving left to right,and bouncing,its far harder to track.Another balancing act...increase shutter speed for sharp subject,at the expense of losing background blur.
Only 1 pan,that is far from great,but here's a few.....