I was directed here...I asked these same questions in the Film Forum and got good info but was also directed here as you folks might be able to help me out....I really dont feel like i'm getting it....

First - I cant get my light meter to balance while I was doing this and I dont understand why? It was a rather sunny day and I was having my friend bike ride around me so I could take the shots... I tried all different combinations of aperture and shutter speed but nothing would make it budge off the +3 side the meter...thoughts?

Second - not that i've developed the film, but do you ever get the feeling you took some crappy shots? I did with all 5 shots I took...and since I need to develop a whole roll to do the project I want to ensure I take some better pics before Tuesday morning....thoughts?

I guess these learning experiences are why some ppl love digital so much, they could see right then and there if they took a good shot - i'll have to wait till Tuesday!! But it's worth the weight as i've fallen in love with B&W film..

Thanks for any advice on this - i feel totally uncomfortable with this roll of film...

Oh using T-Max 100....

Ilene

Ilene,

Well, most of us here don't use film, there are a couple who remember those days like Old Time (OT), hopefully he can chime in and help you out. In the meantime there are a number of "panning" threads that may be helpfull. One thing to keep in mind though is that as you pan the lighting will change as the angles change.

JS

I was having my friend bike ride around me
Is it a motor bike, or a BMX or what?
What speed, and how close?

nothing would make it budge off the +3 side the meter
If the meter is stuck at +3 then you are WAY over-exposing.
Shutter speed too slow, or aperture too wide open.

For a pan you don't want to go below 1/50 second and even there you won't get much success. Usually 1/125 or 1/250 is practical, but which speed you choose depends on your subject.

ISO 100 is good, you wouldn't want to try panning in good light with 400 or 800 film.
The whole idea of panning is to blur the background, so if you use too small an aperture because of the high film speed the streaks in the background get sharp.

In that respect, using digital is easier because you can adjust the ISO to get the shutter speed and aperture you want.

First make sure you can get the exposure right.
Then with the meter on correct exposure, adjust the shutter and aperture so you get between 1/50 and 1/250 shutter speed.

Then you have a chance of getting it.

Paul, thank you for your informational response.

My friend was just riding a regular pedal bike. I was panning at the same speed she was riding though. But now I realize the shutter speeds I were using were way to long and will need to re-do the shots. But hey, live and learn.

This is a film based course so there's no option for me to use digital - tho I realize it might be the better way to go in this case.

Again thank you for the step by step instructions, I will be trying again this afternoon and will put into play everything you've suggested.

try to do it somewhere in shade. you'll have tough luck if you try to pan in direct sunlight. theres just too much sun in order to get slow enough shutter speeds unless you shoot ISO 50 and stop WAY down.