1st Attempt at Panning

[tadrscin]

I decided to spend the night practicing my panning last night. Let me know what you think and I'd welcome any tips. Keep in mind that I wasn't intereseted in composition so some of these aren't too exciting. Other than resizing or cropping, no PP was done. These are basically straight out of the camera.

[Jimmy B]

You nailed #1 in my opinion and I like laided back #3
JB

[photophorous]

I'm no expert on this technique, but I have tried it a few times. I think you did great, especially for a first time! #3 is very good, probably because the guy's whole body is relatively sharp.

What shutter speeds where you using? The backgrounds are good and blurry as they are, but there's not a lot of direction (streeking) to the blur, if you know what I mean. Maybe a slightly longer shutter speed would help? I really don't know, but that's what I would try. These are great, regardless.

Paul

[tadrscin]

Thanks guys. #1 & #3 are where the subjects were moving the slowest so it was easier to follow them. The biggest problem I had was panning at a smooth, steady speed. Some of them I shot with the IS on, unfortunately I don't remember which ones. I shot mostly between 1/20 & 1/40. I tried some slower, but all I got was a blurry mess. Next time I want to try using a slow shutter speed with a flash and see how that looks. Plus I want to experiment using the flash to just reach the rider so that the background is much darker so as not to be as much of a distraction. That shouldn't bee too hard except for the half-pipe. The last time I shot there the flash was the promary light source, but the wall/ceiling was so close that it was lit up as well as the rider. I guess I'll have to experiment with using the flash in manual instead of ETTL.

[JSPhoto]

Your getting the hang of it. There is a thread in this forum on panning (I forget the name of it...doh! but you may get some tips out of it. The main things are:
1: hold the camera correctly
2: take a breat let it out hold and shoot.
3: this is a biggy! Have someone watch you as you press the shutter button and see if your moving the camera as you shoot. It looks like thats what is happening on some of these.

Then practice practice and more practice!

JS

[tadrscin]

Thanks for the tips. I'll do a search for that thread. One thing I noticed is that I have a hard time following the rider in a smooth continuous motion the faster they go. I noticed that I seemed a bit jerky then. As far as camera movement, I assume you mean any movement other than the direction I'm panning and I wouldn't doubt that's happening. Do you think a monopod would help? I've talked to Jimmy B about this as he seems to be quite good at panning and he told me that he wouldn't want to use a monopod. I think I need to get together with Jimmy and have him show me exactly how he does it.

[JSPhoto]

Part of the movement issue is that it's very hard to pan properly with a P&S or light camera. I never beleived that until the very first time I shot a race with a heavy pro camera, and then I knew. The heavier camera tends to keep you from panning faster than the subject. The jerkyness you notice is actually you stopping and starting to keep the subject framed because your panning past the subject.
a monopod? NO! Besides being hazardous to others they will limit your movement and ability to to move quickly as the action changes.
And yes, your correct, I was refering to movement other than the panning movement when pressing the shutter button. It tends to move the camera horizontally or even diagonally as you press the shutter button. It takes some practice to learn not to move the camera and to press the button smoothly, not always easy when your shooting furiously in action photography.

JS

[dhyravy]

For the flash on the half pipe you might try diffusing. I sometimes use a wedge shaped piece of white stiff cotton cloth that I attached some velcro to and then strap to my speedlight with the head pointed straight up. (I have also seen this done with printer paper or a 3x5 index card and a rubber band) This softens the flash quite a bit. Also, if I need more direct light the head can be tilted more toward the subject.

[livin4lax09]

a monopod will only help if the subject is on the same plane as your lens, and not changing planes at all. which barely ever happens. #1 is pretty awesome, i must admit.

[tadrscin]

Part of the movement issue is that it's very hard to pan properly with a P&S or light camera. I never beleived that until the very first time I shot a race with a heavy pro camera, and then I knew. The heavier camera tends to keep you from panning faster than the subject. The jerkyness you notice is actually you stopping and starting to keep the subject framed because your panning past the subject.
a monopod? NO! Besides being hazardous to others they will limit your movement and ability to to move quickly as the action changes.
And yes, your correct, I was refering to movement other than the panning movement when pressing the shutter button. It tends to move the camera horizontally or even diagonally as you press the shutter button. It takes some practice to learn not to move the camera and to press the button smoothly, not always easy when your shooting furiously in action photography.

JS

I think you hit the nail on the head. I do have a hard time keeping the rider in the center of the viewfinder when they're moving fast. I will be practicing quite a bit so I'll get better at it. I will have someone watch to see if I'm getting any of the other movement you're talking about.

[tadrscin]

For the flash on the half pipe you might try diffusing. I sometimes use a wedge shaped piece of white stiff cotton cloth that I attached some velcro to and then strap to my speedlight with the head pointed straight up. (I have also seen this done with printer paper or a 3x5 index card and a rubber band) This softens the flash quite a bit. Also, if I need more direct light the head can be tilted more toward the subject.

I love it. The old school 3x5 card. I hadn't thought about doing that. I have an Omnibouce diffuser so I think I'll try that as well.

[tadrscin]

a monopod will only help if the subject is on the same plane as your lens, and not changing planes at all. which barely ever happens. #1 is pretty awesome, i must admit.

Thanks. The guy in #1 was riding pretty slowly as was the skater in #3 which is why they look better. I definitely need to practice panning at the same speed as the subject so I can stop the jerkiness that JS referred to.