C&C - Motorbike - Panning - Thanks!!

Tarakiwa · 29-09-2006 5:18pm #1

Ok - so, I asked for a bit of advice as to how to pan as there was a motorbike road race happening right outside the house (we were literally locked in for the weekend!) Here are the results of my 1st EVER attempt to use the "Panning" setting on the camera. It took a while to get used to & I got an awful lot of shots with just half a bike in them (just see the 3rd one for an example of what I mean)

I found it quite difficulkt to do but enjoyed it none the lesds

C&C if you want but thanks to all that helped to advise me!

P.S. - I had SERIOUS camera envy over the weekend looking at some of the monster cameras / lenses that were on display!

Morlar · 29-09-2006 6:23pm

I liked the last one - my preference for that one would be to crop out the mud area in the foreground and also the sky completely. Then a bit from the left side to balance it a bit more. Also I think this could benefit from levels/curves adjustment in photoshop.

29-09-2006 6:37pm

I gave panning a go on bikes for the first time a few weeks back aswell. Was dissapointed with the results ,because I was too close the bikes.
Personally I don't think I'd ever try panning motorbikes ever again ,unless it was on a proper race track like mondello.

davmigil · 29-09-2006 8:08pm

Well done Tarakiwa, you got some good captures there of a tricky subject. Bikes are sharp, which is the main thing. Definitely worth your while trying different crops and adjustments as Morlar suggests - could turn them into great shots.

Morlar · 29-09-2006 11:20pm

Hi Tarakiwa - hope you dont mind - I got bored working on some of my own shots there and had a quick go at one of yours to show you what I meant crop and levels wise. Its probably a bit of overdone as it was rushed but you know what I mean.

Fionn · 30-09-2006 12:07am

good clear shots - well done it aint easy to get it right!

Fajitas! · 30-09-2006 7:21am

1st and last ones are the best. You should use some very tight panoramic crops though, to really emphisise the speed and direction, and cut out the background detail.

mikeanywhere · 30-09-2006 9:05am

Morlar wrote:

I liked the last one - my preference for that one would be to crop out the mud area in the foreground and also the sky completely. Then a bit from the left side to balance it a bit more. Also I think this could benefit from levels/curves adjustment in photoshop.

My words exactly (even though I didnt say it - doh!!)

Ruu_Old · 30-09-2006 11:41am

I'm sure its quite difficult to get decent shots like this, well done.

5uspect · 30-09-2006 11:43am

Panning is so hard! You did really well there. I agree about the PS work too. A crop that shows the speed works great.
Maybe it would be a good idea for someone to submitt some pics to the digital darkroom for photoshoppage, would be a great way of getting lots of ideas about what works.

unklerosco · 30-09-2006 12:47pm

Got bored myself.. I like the first pic, few tweaks...

Fenster · 30-09-2006 8:47pm

Nice!

I had another try at panning when I was in San Diego:

http://static.flickr.com/81/253870360_35d09ff8cf_b.jpg

Tarakiwa · 01-10-2006 10:33am

Thanks for all the comments & for those of you that took the time & effort to do a bit of work on them for me too another HUGE thanks to you.

I posted the phortographs without any ps work (not even a simple crop) so it is great to see what you guys are able to do!

After I get a bit better at actually taking photographs I intend to learn a bit about ps. - I guess you could say that you guys have inspired me to learn!!

T

Biker.ie · 03-10-2006 8:13pm

Good shots!, Bikes are pretty difficult to snap because of their size & speed (rally cars are much easier!), try the back-markers and slower motorcycles first with a medium/high shutter speed (1/250-1/400) then when you've perfected that move onto the faster boys and knock your shutter down to around 1/80-1/160'ish and get those hips swinging in a golfer like movement whilst tracking your subject even long after you've taken the shot to keep things fluid and seamless. Get yourself up to a trackday at mondello, kirkistown or bishopscourt where its not even half as dangerous or intimidating as road racing (the season is finished now anyway).

http://www.biker.ie/gallery/albums/Mondello_Park_Clubmans_2006/Round9_Clubmans_16Sep2006/Round9_Clubmans_Bishopscourt_2006DSC_0740.jpg
http://www.biker.ie/gallery/albums/Mondello_Park_Clubmans_2006/Round9_Clubmans_16Sep2006/Round9_Clubmans_Bishopscourt_2006DSC_0823.jpg
http://www.biker.ie/gallery/albums/Mondello_Park_Clubmans_2006/Round9_Clubmans_16Sep2006/Round9_Clubmans_Bishopscourt_2006DSC_0822.jpg

At the end of the day its all trial & error, or as some people like to call it- improving yar vorsprung dung technik

C&C - Motorbike - Panning - Thanks!!

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