Need help with settings: I am going to be photographing my son's ice races tonight and there is only 1 overhead light on the track. The snow and ice will help to brighten things up a...

dpackard67 Loc: Wisconsin

I am going to be photographing my son's ice races tonight and there is only 1 overhead light on the track. The snow and ice will help to brighten things up a little bit. With the fast speeds and low light conditions, I would like some recommendations on what settings should be used for both stop-action shots and for shots to have some motion blur. I plan on shooting in shutter priority which I am just learning to use. I have a D3200 w/ a 55-200 1:4-5.6 and a sb-700 flash. Any tips would be greatly appreciated....

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

this may help...
http://www.digitalphotomentor.com/snow-grey-winter-photos/

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I think it would be rude to use a flash. Might throw a scater off. If you set your aperture wide open it will give you the fastest shutter speed you can get. I would set ISO as high as you can. Some folks don't like the noise (grain) but in sports shots I think it is OK. If that speed is not fast enough you may try panning as he goes by. To blur just stop down a bit tell you get what you want. - Dave

dpackard67 Loc: Wisconsin

dirtpusher wrote:

this may help...
http://www.digitalphotomentor.com/snow-grey-winter-photos/

Thank you for the link. I will check it out....

dpackard67 Loc: Wisconsin

wilsondl2 wrote:

I think it would be rude to use a flash. Might throw a scater off. If you set your aperture wide open it will give you the fastest shutter speed you can get. I would set ISO as high as you can. Some folks don't like the noise (grain) but in sports shots I think it is OK. If that speed is not fast enough you may try panning as he goes by. To blur just stop down a bit tell you get what you want. - Dave

I never thought about the flash... Won't the noise show up even more with being a darker photos?

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

It sounds like a difficult situation. I think you just have to go early and experiment. Shoot on manual so when you get a look you want there will be a consistency. And don't use the flash, it will distract the players. Post some pics when you get them.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Not only rude, but dangerous to the skaters potentially causing an accident.

wilsondl2 wrote:

I think it would be rude to use a flash. Might throw a scater off. If you set your aperture wide open it will give you the fastest shutter speed you can get. I would set ISO as high as you can. Some folks don't like the noise (grain) but in sports shots I think it is OK. If that speed is not fast enough you may try panning as he goes by. To blur just stop down a bit tell you get what you want. - Dave

:thumbup: :thumbup:

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I would suggest you try setting the shutter and aperture manually and letting the camera pick the ISO. This has worked well for me shooting motorcycle races.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

One of the components determining shutter speed to freeze motion will be the angle that the racer is moving in relation to the camera, which is something we do not know.

You will show motion of the racer effectively by panning.

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-pan-for-action-photography/

Have fun. :)

dpackard67 Loc: Wisconsin

sueyeisert wrote:

Not only rude, but dangerous to the skaters potentially causing an accident.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

I'm sorry, I didn't specify what "ice" racing. :-) It's ATV racing...

dpackard67 Loc: Wisconsin

Jaime wrote:

It sounds like a difficult situation. I think you just have to go early and experiment. Shoot on manual so when you get a look you want there will be a consistency. And don't use the flash, it will distract the players. Post some pics when you get them.

It was very difficult!I tried all kinds of settings... I think I deleted more photos that I kept. I did get some to turn out ok... just ok though... I'll post some in a little while... PS: I didn't specify what kind of "ice racing" It was atv racing :-)

Pour_Me44 Loc: S W Missoura

Look at the ones that turned out the best and check your settings and go from there.

Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

Without using flash for reason stated, I wonder about the color of the available light?

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

dpackard67 wrote:

I never thought about the flash... Won't the noise show up even more with being a darker photos?

Yes, and that's what all sports photographers have to contend with.
That's why you'll see those ginormous lenses being used by pros.