Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

I have rediscovered panning. I have not tried this technique since my film days and it was very difficult back then. It is easier now with the fast autofocus of my Z6. However, I'm not happy yet with the results but could use a critique from anyone who wishes. Now remember, this is about the photograph and not the photographer. Be kind and constructive. The image was at the following exposure: ISO 100, Aperture f/22, Shutter speed 1/25th. The focal length was 24mm (using a 24-70 fixed aperture lens). I tried to match the speed of the cycle to the speed at which I panned. I may have pressed the shutter a bit too early.
Thank you for your helpful comments.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

1/25 is a bit too slow for this motorcycle I think. 40-60 may have frozen the bike a bit better. With panning it’s alway a crap shoot though. In case you didn’t, you should try setting your camera for motor drive, use a single focus point in Continuous/Servo mode and let it rip as the bike goes by. Usually you’ll get at least one good one.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I agree with Tomflo 101.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Almost always, you want to store the original for any useful analysis and feedback for an image. However, here we probably can see enough from the description of your shooting parameters.

Modern zoom lenses provide a panning IS / VR setting, but on the 70-200 and longer zooms and not 24-70 models. I wonder why you chose such a slow shutter? Also for modern equipment, small apertures, smaller than say f/13, tend to soften an image due to diffraction more than any positive contribution they'll provide for depth of field.

What's missing from the thumbnail and your description is your choice of AF tracking mode. Did you set a single point or zone on the body of the driver and track in AF-C (continuous) as the driver passed and you fired off a multi-frame burst of shots, where this is one of the results?

So, maybe f/5.6 to f/8 around 1/200 would provide a sharper result of the subject against the same blurred background. Look too at the need to clean the sensor dust for this camera, something too exposed by a unnecessarily small f/22 aperture.

amersfoort

Shutter speed too slow.

Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

Thank you all. You are (all) correct. The shutter speed was too slow. I have shot some images at 1/30 to 1/60. I will load them and send out later today. Your assistance is so much appereciated!

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

f/8 would be better than f/22. Raise you shutter speed and don't be afraid of a higher ISO with the Z-6. It is almost as good as the D5 in the ISO realm. You get too much defraction with f/22.

Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

Again, thank you for the guidance. This photo below, I believe, is getting closer to the panning technique. Continuous AF, single shot, ISO 1400, f/stop f/11, manual setting, shutter speed 1/30.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Basics: Comfortable position..we aren't contortionists! Feet comfortably about shoulder width apart, shoulder pointing approximately in the direction where the action is expected,
Af-C, single focus point (center) Twist your body to frame the object, Keep the focus point on the center of the object, full auto if you got it, and follow through even after the shot is captured! Evaluate, adjust as necessary, repeat, and soon, you'll have it!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Now you should work on focus. Even on a moving / panning subject, we should be able to see the eyelashes on this driver.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

CHG_CANON: you have been very unselfish in your advice and guidance and I thank you once again. However, Please show me your freeze images that have the fine details such as eyelashes.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A tool / technique you might want to consider is this much talked about BBF - Back Button Focus, that helps you defer to your thumb the process of maintaining continuous focus, while your brain and eye and index finger worry maintain where the focus falls and tripping the shutter at just the right moment / burst.

I don't have a 1 to 1 similar of distance and speed as your motorcycle, as well as I was exaggerating on the details of eyelashes, but something sharper on the exact subject is the idea, such as:

F8F Bearcat by Paul Sager, on Flickr

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

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