Thread: Pictures ! Anything goes, it is the camera corner after all !!

Jervis Bay

Originally Posted by PTC

Very nice shots there. Any tips on getting the car in focus but the people or background blurry?

I have been told one way is to pan the camera as the car goes by. Another is to set the image stabilizing on the lens to mode 2. Only shutting out the vertical movement. Or the only way i have fluked a shot is with a flash set up close up to the car and kept the shutter open that second longer.

I'm certainly no expert, but what worked for me, shooting in shutter priority mode with a fast shutter speed- but not too fast(I like 1/500). I use a lot faster if I want to freeze everything. Shutter -continuous high, AutoFocus - continuous, Metering -either centre weighted or spot and a nice fast lens (Nikkor 70-200VRII f2.8 used for these.)

Then I simply panned to follow the car. BTW the single cars side on are at full race speed down the front straight at Sandown... so they were seriously moving.

This is not my normal photography environment...but was a heck of a lot of fun

Originally Posted by PTC

Very nice shots there. Any tips on getting the car in focus but the people or background blurry?

I have been told one way is to pan the camera as the car goes by. Another is to set the image stabilizing on the lens to mode 2. Only shutting out the vertical movement. Or the only way i have fluked a shot is with a flash set up close up to the car and kept the shutter open that second longer.

I was taught this technique from a wonderful professional photographer, Graeme (Bluey) Thomson (News Ltd), when we members of the ARHS ACT (Steam trains). I started off on trains and then had a go at bikes and cars. Its all about smooth panning, he said to use 1/60th, slower objects go slower, and on higher speeds objects can do a bit faster say 1/100 using shutter priority or move to full manual once you have your readings. Then bang away as many shots as your camera can do, its a real hit or miss but practice slowly gets some half decent results

My youngest brother at Eastern Creek. I was standing near the bottom of the main straight.



Last year south of Christchurch, I was standing, better shots can be taken parallel from a vehicle using the same speed settings.

Nice images Rosco.

It's no doubt my panning technique..but if I drop anywhere near as low at 1/60 I end up with rubbish.I notice your bike is at 1/320 but no exif in the train.

As you said part of the key is bang away with lots of shots and experiment what works for you.

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Nice images Rosco.

It's no doubt my panning technique..but if I drop anywhere near as low at 1/60 I end up with rubbish.I notice your bike is at 1/320 but no exif in the train.

As you said part of the key is bang away with lots of shots and experiment what works for you.

Mark, here is the Train info, so 1/60 worked well here, and its what I normally use for train shots. Its all in a smooth pan and takes practice, and using a standard or even slightly wide focus, the more zoom then the harder to get a decent shot, and then a bit of editing because its near impossible to get it where you want in the picture ;

Camera: Canon EOS 6D
Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Exposure: 1/60 sec; f/22; ISO 100
Shutter Priority: Spot metering
Image size: 5472 × 3648
Resolution: 240 Pixel per Inch

Surprised me I took my brothers bike that fast .. mmmm .. brought back a bit more memory about the day, I was positioned as I said near the bottom of the main straight, near where they were starting to brake, so were really hammering, probably 180+kph, he was in the 2nd fastest group running that day. Here is another one I took and this looks okay at 1/160, a bit hard to see on the small screen on the day so I kept increasing each passing round and I got that one of my brother at 1/320. 1st time doing bikes, so a lot of trial and error, start slower and then keep increasing. Shots at 1/60 looking back were too blurred but 1/160 worked for me, even the shot at 1/320 looks okay so need to file that away. Panning, I use the same technique as when I learned to shoot a rifle in the Air Force Cadets, breath in, exhale half way and hold. I position my elbows into my body and twist my body to provide a steadier platform. I used to shoot Steam Trains using a Sony semi pro video setup, and panning was always my achilles heel, even using a big heavy Miller fluid head, I reckon I used to be only happy with 1 out of 3 takes !!! Been doing a bit of video with the Canon 6D, with add on audio processing and video monitor, on a smaller Miller head, its still hard yakka. Very happy with the 6D as a stills camera. Thinking of getting another decent semi or pro video camera.

Palm Beach looking NNW. 136 images @ ISO400, 30s, f4.5. I thought the convergence of the flight paths was cool!

My Daughter Airor, quite possibly my favourite subject....looking a bit wild.


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My first attempt following Bushie's instructions.



It wasn't a dark night, the moon was illuminating the mountains.

Your comments please.