Auto or manual
Apr 15, 2012 02:18:57 #
Has anyone had experience photographing auto races? All thoughts welcome.
Ive been studying the D7k manual and Im still in a quandary. Sometimes it is as clear as MUD. Ill be photographing the big auto race near the end of May and will have press credentials so I can go most anywhere, within the rules. Im thinking that Ill goose the ISO up to 800 and on auto, set lens & camera to manual focus and focus to the hyper focal point and the shutter priority about as fast as I test that day & hope I get good exposures. I doubt the focus mechanism can follow a car coming toward me at high speed. My most extreme position may be about 10-40 ft. from the cars at the side of track (behind barriers) and will pan with the cars doing more than 180 mph. I have ear protectors on order!
Ive been studying the D7k manual and Im still in a quandary. Sometimes it is as clear as MUD. Ill be photographing the big auto race near the end of May and will have press credentials so I can go most anywhere, within the rules. Im thinking that Ill goose the ISO up to 800 and on auto, set lens & camera to manual focus and focus to the hyper focal point and the shutter priority about as fast as I test that day & hope I get good exposures. I doubt the focus mechanism can follow a car coming toward me at high speed. My most extreme position may be about 10-40 ft. from the cars at the side of track (behind barriers) and will pan with the cars doing more than 180 mph. I have ear protectors on order!
Apr 15, 2012 03:36:49 #
Hi Johanna!
Sounds like you have some good ideas already. A few others to consider:
An ISO of 400 should allow for as fast a shutter speed as necessary, and will also let you shoot some at lower speeds to get some blur. Blur can be a great way to depict action & speed, particularly with your panning shots. Blur the background.
Usually best position is in or near a turn, the cars tend to bunch up near the turns making for good photos.
Prefocusing is a good idea, as well as panning. And given that you can take hundreds of photos, you might try some other "crazy" things, too. Have fun!
Ear protection? OMG YES! And eye protection as well, they can throw stuff off the track that might go anywhere.
Sounds like you have some good ideas already. A few others to consider:
An ISO of 400 should allow for as fast a shutter speed as necessary, and will also let you shoot some at lower speeds to get some blur. Blur can be a great way to depict action & speed, particularly with your panning shots. Blur the background.
Usually best position is in or near a turn, the cars tend to bunch up near the turns making for good photos.
Prefocusing is a good idea, as well as panning. And given that you can take hundreds of photos, you might try some other "crazy" things, too. Have fun!
Ear protection? OMG YES! And eye protection as well, they can throw stuff off the track that might go anywhere.
Apr 15, 2012 03:48:33 #
Auto races are not necessarily about freezing everything in the frame. High shutter speeds are also not necessarily the best idea. Freezing everything does not necessarily convey the power and motion involved.
I have shot all manners of motor sports on land and in water. The image here is from the 24 Hours at Daytona. Guess the shutter speed? Everything your need is in the frame.
I have shot all manners of motor sports on land and in water. The image here is from the 24 Hours at Daytona. Guess the shutter speed? Everything your need is in the frame.
I test assistants with this photo. The shutter speed is obvious.
Apr 16, 2012 11:03:34 #
As I've mentioned several times, I capture dragon flies IN FLIGHT. I set my F stop as wide open as the lens allows, I set the ISO at 1000, sometimes 1200. Shutter speeds in excess of 1/2000th of a second are not at all unusual. Now, I'm shooting in daylight, can't speak to evening light
Apr 16, 2012 11:10:47 #
PhotoArtsLA wrote:
Auto races are not necessarily about freezing everything in the frame. High shutter speeds are also not necessarily the best idea. Freezing everything does not necessarily convey the power and motion involved.
I have shot all manners of motor sports on land and in water. The image here is from the 24 Hours at Daytona. Guess the shutter speed? Everything your need is in the frame.
I have shot all manners of motor sports on land and in water. The image here is from the 24 Hours at Daytona. Guess the shutter speed? Everything your need is in the frame.
Ok...I've tried and tried to see what's so obvious and I have an idea....I'll guess then you explain..ok/
1/60.
Apr 16, 2012 11:17:37 #
Apr 16, 2012 15:47:12 #
ISO 200+ 1/30th/sec you are panning to try and sync with the speed of the car making it as close as you can to it appearing to stand still. It is simi dark thus needing slow tv high iso etc.
Apr 16, 2012 15:54:25 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
For me, manual + practice. Manual EVERYTHING. Sort exposure with empty track. Worry about focus (auto/prefocus) later. Prefocus, don't use hyperfocal: zone focus is what you need. See http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20how%20zone%20focus.html
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Apr 17, 2012 00:58:37 #
Roger Hicks wrote:
For me, manual + practice. Manual EVERYTHING. Sort exposure with empty track. Worry about focus (auto/prefocus) later. Prefocus, don't use hyperfocal: zone focus is what you need. See http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20how%20zone%20focus.html
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Youre "how to zone focus" was interesting. I will check out more of your site. My prime lenses have the proper engravings where a zone can be set. All my zoom lenses are the G type with only focal length & distance numbers. I'll just have to "wing it". The cars go by so many times; I can focus on any car before I see what I want. Well have several days there and will be photographing the gasoline alley area. I hope well get some good pix of people working on the cars etc.
I guess this will be intuitive photography. My friend Paula lives in the Surrey, UK area and has been photographing the kart races for years. I am her assistant for this gig for the Karting Magazine. The race officials have accepted us for press passes.
Many years ago I had a Leica 3F, both red & black dials (at different times) with 3 lenses. Wish I hadnt sold them. I had an 85mm f:2 lens that I was thrilled with.
I am mostly a tourist point & shoot person at this time. I do have pictures from all seven continents though. When you are on tours photography time is limited but I try.
Apr 17, 2012 01:42:49 #
PhotoArtsLA wrote:
Don't need to guess. Guess the shutter speed? Everything your need is in the frame.
Assuming the high intensity lighting is running on 60 cycle power I count 6 full cycles = 1/10th second.
You pan quite well :-)
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