Panning

R

Ross2

Suspended / Banned
Messages
329
Edit My Images
No
Ok i been off work all week with flu and this have given me time to think about my photography.

ive been doing motorsport photography for the past two years and now being to wonder if i have been going wrong. :(:thinking:

i currently use a 35-350 canon4.5 to 5.6 L lens. i set the camera to TV mode and al servo to track the subject. As i pan, i adjust the zoom to fit the subject in, say as it goes around the corner. should i be doing this. is it too much adjustment for the cmarea to handle as so of my shots are oof. Should i just leave the lens set on a certain focal length? eg. 200mm through out the shot.

also should i be panning as most of the magazines i read say focus on on spot and take the photo as the sugject comes into the view finder.?

maybe it jsut he tablets i been on but i seriuosly questioning my technique?
 
I don't adjust the zoom while panning. The way I do it is set the zoom length to how I want it for the spot I'm going to click the shutter in. Then focus on the car or bike on it's way, half press, keep panning and then click when it's at the point I pre-set the zoom to and track it as it's going away.

Does that make sense? Seems a bit like gobbledygook when I type it LOL
 
I wouldn't adjust the zoom while panning personal...

This is how I do it... check my flickr and you will see I am no expert....

I would find the spot where I want to take the picture, zoom on the spot of the track I want and make sure it's exposed how I want it etc.. then would position my feet so I am facing where I intend on pressing the shutter.. Then I swing back and wait for the car, have it set to central focus point then pan keeping the central focus point in the same place on the car and when I hit the point I picked I press the shutter....

I find it's always best to try and decide where you want to take the picture first and set the camera up accordingly.


EDIT: damn someone beat me to it :)
 
I do exactly what the others do. CT documented it with pics really well here
 
Oh and without wanting to spark a debate, I love using a monopod for panning shots
 
thank you everyone for they replies. keep them coming.
prehaps not so silly now. will take on board all comments and try them out.

next question: i was told to try to fill the view finder or should i crop after?
 
Ross2 said:
thank you everyone for they replies. keep them coming.
prehaps not so silly now. will take on board all comments and try them out.

next question: i was told to try to fill the view finder or should i crop after?
Click to expand...

I think that depends on how good you are at panning. Personally on my recent shots I didn't worry about getting really tight and cropped, but the aim is to get it right in camera..... practice, practice, practice.

Mark :thumbs:
 
Creed said:
Oh and without wanting to spark a debate, I love using a monopod for panning shots
Click to expand...

My best panning shots also use a monopod - although I do slap a wimberley sidekick on top and only use the pod with long glass.

Short glass it is freehand all the way!
 
I tend to not crop too tightly in camera (using the zoom) although this is mainly due to only have a 200mm lens... I would imagine it requires a lot more skill to get really tight shots without cropping in PP...
 
I don't get anywhere near enough practice, so would rather have some breathing space and tend to crop a bit in PP.
 
Just a quick question for the guys who use monopods, what sort of "arc" of movement are you talking about? I have a monopod but so far I have found it far to cumbersome to use for panning; it seems to get in the way as I am turning and following the moving object. Just after some technique tips really. :)

Thanks,
Dave.
 
Dredd123 said:
Just a quick question for the guys who use monopods, what sort of "arc" of movement are you talking about? I have a monopod but so far I have found it far to cumbersome to use for panning; it seems to get in the way as I am turning and following the moving object. Just after some technique tips really. :)

Thanks,
Dave.
Click to expand...

Well this is where making sure your feet are in the right place comes in... if you position your feet right then neither them or the monopod should be moving so there isn't a problem. Need to make sure you have a monopod that can get the camera up to eye level without having to bend too much as that's where it starts getting a bit more difficult

EDIT: Been a while since I last did it but if I remember correctly I stood a little back from the monopod to make it easier... i.e. the monopod leg was on the ground infront of my feet rather than behind them..... it's an aquired taste this monopod lark... I would advise practising in the house or something before your first outing.. sounds daft but you will be able to see what feels most comfortable
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top