Flash for Speed

alldone404

alldone404

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Richard davis
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HELP from any one of you nice people out there please. What am I doing wrong!! I want to take fast moving objects, mostly speedway at night, under Stadium lights. I do get one or two good ones (not perfect), one attached to this thread, but the rest are like the second one attached. They are taken with a Canon 20D, 70-200 L 2.8 Lens and a Canon 580EX flash. The camera is set to 400 ISO, TV, 250th of a second. Please can you help this old man, who loves photography.:bang:

IMG_0028.JPG


IMG_0025.JPG


:help:
 
Hmmm background is in focus... maybe a focusing issue?
Autofocus locked onto the wrong spot?

If you pan along with the rider they will more likely to be clear than just snapping as they go by.
 
The second shot looks like you just using ambient light and the flash didn't fire. Probably not recylced in time. Although It does also look more like the focal point is on the boards in the background, rather than the bike rider, so that is more likely your problem.

the more I look at it, the bike rider is overexposed, which suggests the flash is exposing for the background boards.
 
Exif says flash fired... so thats that eliminated! :D I believe if you focus and lock like you normally do,, when you use flash it wont work correctly and will expose for the wrong bit.
 
Thank you for your replies. I also have set the camera to 'centre weighted', 'partial weighted' and 'full' but as you rightly say, it always seems to focus on the boards behind. The camera is also set to Al Servo, should I change this? I do try and pan with the rider, but I still get the problem. Also, I am standing about 4-5 meters from them and they are travelling about 60mph. In daylight I have no problem at all. It's this confounded flash causing all the problems. (It's a lot more difficult than it looks).

:'(
 
It's not more difficult than it looks. It's just difficult!

You really need to keep the camera on AI Servo. or you could manualy pre focus on an area and wait for the riders to get there then fire.
 
Thank's natjag, am I doing right with the camera in TV mode and set to 250th of a second?





I get so grumpy when I can't do something.
 
Thanks Benroy, looks like a lot of good reading. Will research without delay. The feeling I get get from the replies to my thread is that, it's practice and more practice! My local sports newspaper reporter just seems to stand there and click, click, click. Next day, great pictures in the paper. Ah well.











I get so grumpy when I can't do something. :'(
 
You shouldnt be using flash for this type of photography, it's dangerous for the riders.
Try a high ISO and pre focus on a spot on the track.
 
Thanks for your point of view PapaLazarou, but, the only time it is dangerous for the riders is when taken from the outside of the track. As riders look to the outside of the track when going into the bend they don't even notice the flash. My son is a rider and confirms this to be the case. All the professional speedway photographers use flash at this time of the year, ('cause it's dark). ha, ha.

:(







I get so grumpy when I can't do something.
 
I'm sure if it was a problem using flash, you would have been told very quickly, or a rider would have complained, and it stopped.
With regard to using tv at 1/250 there are a few ways you can try, and find the one which suits.
You could try manual setting 1/250 and select an aperture you want to use f4 ro what ever, the flash will make the exposure.
Or you could change one of the custom functions (I think cf3) to have the camera always sync to 1/250 when a flash is attached, and use in Av with your aperture choice. Only thing to watch is that is the flash runs outs of omph from a few quick bursts, it does adjust to a no flash longer exposure, so you could end up with a panned shot.

for my main work, which isn't motorsport, I'm always using flash, even during the day. I just use either Av (normaly during the day) and Manual at night, but I vary depending on job type. quite often the flash is set to manual as this helps speed up the cameras reaction. I'll take a few test shots and leave it set. But, it could be VERY different for motorsport. Try and see what the other guys are doing, without ovbiously asking them, as they may not tell you.

when you get comfatable, you could try using 2nd curtian sync.
 
This forum is just great, fantastic advice and help but also you are a great friendly bunch of people, giving your time and knowhow to people like me. THANK YOU!!

You are quite right natjack, the pro 'Mail' photographer who takes the pictures from the same track as I do, just frown on the likes of me. (Ask for advice, What!! I'm not that brave). :lol:

I will certainly give the advice I have been given a go this coming Friday night. :thumbs:







I get so grumpy when I can't do something.
 
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