1st Motorsport try tips please

[mace¬]

Went to Brean Rally Stages today and tried the DSLR out for the first time. Any tips for improvement or advice would help as I didn't really know what I was doing.

But here is my fave 3:

1.

2.

3.

All of these are straight out of the camera no PP as I haven't really got a clue how to do it yet!!

 

[Little Richie]

If you haven't already, i'd suggest reading the following. I'm not a photographer, but found it very interesting and useful: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=290745

 

[mace¬]

Yeah, I read that and thought it would be easy!!! and then I saw the cars flying past. Theory is easy, but I now understand that practice is practice and UKASKEW has got alot of skill.

 

[Jungle_Jim]

not a bad effort mate, i find it much easier when panning if you just track one thing, so for instance follow just the wing mirror or the door number, that way the image will be sharper. if you try to just track the car as a whole you will tend to move it about the frame

 

[GaryS]

If that's how they came off the camera I'd suggest not trying to get the car to totally fill the frame as a) less chance off missing half the car and b) rallying often has interesting backgrounds which add to the picture and give more of a story rather than it being just a shot of the car eg

Were you using tracking focus on 1 and 3? They don't seem as sharp as the 2nd one.

 

[dunganick]

Ive recently started taking motorsport pics, and ive only been at it about a month, yet ive gone from rubbish pics to ones im very pleased with.

My biggest advice (if i can even give any)

Dont be scared of ISO, 200 400 or even 800 can be used without too much noise, i tend to stick to 200 and 400, if you need to be using 800 i would really consider using a shorter lense or less magnification and then cropping the image in photoshop.

The ideal speeds go from about 1/500 in good light for a front on shot with no wheels visable, to 1/250 lowest i can use without much hand shake on my non stabilised lenses. 1/320 seems the most consistant.

In countrys like ours use the lowest aperture you can, you need all the brightness you can get.

Try to pan smoothly, this is what makes the biggest difference to sharpness.

Using AI focus is a must, and as someone has said, finding a focal point, i find number plate for front on, or the front wheel arch for a 1/4 helps alot.

The guide linked above, also a sticky is excellent.

If you want to know if your images are sharp, number plates are great.

As also said, dont fill the shot with car, not only does this not look good, but ive found you loose sharpness at the long end of your lense, and as such are better of going for a shorter zoom and either cropping down or using the image as is.

my flickr, shows what my pics are like after about 3k shots over 1 month of 400d ownership. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunganick/

I'm a Very happy bunny, what kit are you using?

 

[Andi-B]

As said above, try not to completely fill the photo with the moving object, mean you get a margin for error if you dont get it completely in the middle..

Here's some I took at World Renault series last september..

 

[mace¬]

Thanks guys,

I see what you mean about not filling the frame with the car but the viewing wasn't very good and there were trees and branches in the foreground.

I was using AI SERVO for the focus on my Canon 400d, Is this correct?

 

[dunganick]

yeh, my settings for that sort of light on my 400d are (depending on lense) f5.6 1/320 iso 100 or 200, ai focus, partial meetering, The biggest two things with improoving your photos would probably be shutter speed and the over filled frame.

Try and get to a local track or some sort and practice on a track day, thats what ive been doing.

 

[Clart]

As said above, try not to completely fill the photo with the moving object, mean you get a margin for error if you dont get it completely in the middle..

Here's some I took at World Renault series last september..

what lens is that with matey?

 

[GaryS]

Thanks guys,

I see what you mean about not filling the frame with the car but the viewing wasn't very good and there were trees and branches in the foreground.

I was using AI SERVO for the focus on my Canon 400d, Is this correct?

Aye, that's the Canon equivalent of tracking focus. That's generally the best setting for rallying, although if doing a jump shot where the cars appears in view in the air then best to use the other method (can't remember the name on Canon?) or manual focus.

Trees and branches... tip 2: carry a mini-saw or a pair of garden clippers in your camera bag

 

[MaLicE]

u have a scratch or dust on your lens...

 

[ukaskew]

As a few have mentioned, it's down to practice mainly, I think I got to 35 events or thereabouts last year, it doesn't have to be expensive either, the following are free at Castle Combe this year...

Saturday, March 08, 2008 - Porsche Club Day
Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Great Western Sprint
Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Alfaholics Track Day
Saturday, April 26, 2008 - Porsche Club Day
Saturday, May 24, 2008 - Lotus Club Day
Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Bristol Motor Club Sprint
Saturday, July 26, 2008 - VW Audi Track Day
Saturday, August 09, 2008 - Bristol Pegasus Motor Club Trackday
Saturday, October 11, 2008 - Audi Club Track Day
Saturday, October 18, 2008 - Bristol Pegasus Motor Club Sprint
Saturday, October 25, 2008 - Stroke Association Rally
Saturday, November 01, 2008 - Porsche Club Day

I will probably get to 2/3s of those this year, did many of them last year as well, just turn up and wander around the track, there are rarely more than 10/15 spectators to get in your way. You will be amazed at some of the toys that come out to play at some of these low-key events, the Porsche Club days are always immense...

http://chrisharrison.smugmug.com/gallery/2619859

 

[mace¬]

u have a scratch or dust on your lens...

Do you mean on the bottom right? I think thats just the bushes I was shooting through.

 

[mace¬]

I've had a look at the Combe website and am going to try to get to as many as possible. I've strarted writing down the events in a diary and it is quickly filling up!!

 

[Nigel]

As a few have mentioned, it's down to practice mainly, I think I got to 35 events or thereabouts last year, it doesn't have to be expensive either, the following are free at Castle Combe this year...

Saturday, March 08, 2008 - Porsche Club Day
Saturday, March 29, 2008 - Great Western Sprint
Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Alfaholics Track Day
Saturday, April 26, 2008 - Porsche Club Day
Saturday, May 24, 2008 - Lotus Club Day
Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Bristol Motor Club Sprint
Saturday, July 26, 2008 - VW Audi Track Day
Saturday, August 09, 2008 - Bristol Pegasus Motor Club Trackday
Saturday, October 11, 2008 - Audi Club Track Day
Saturday, October 18, 2008 - Bristol Pegasus Motor Club Sprint
Saturday, October 25, 2008 - Stroke Association Rally
Saturday, November 01, 2008 - Porsche Club Day

I will probably get to 2/3s of those this year, did many of them last year as well, just turn up and wander around the track, there are rarely more than 10/15 spectators to get in your way. You will be amazed at some of the toys that come out to play at some of these low-key events, the Porsche Club days are always immense...

http://chrisharrison.smugmug.com/gallery/2619859

Great post!

Do you know of any free days at donnington or how to find out?