Challenge IV - Panning

[ricktas]

In your shutter speed challenge, you discovered that shutter speeds could affect how blurry a moving image was within your scene. You ended up with nice sharp background, but a blurry car, as you used slower shutter speeds.

Now slow shutter speeds can be very effective when photographing moving water (waterfalls etc), but on a car, the vehicle ends up blurry with your background sharp.

This challenge is about reversing that, using a slower shutter speed to capture the car reasonably sharply and the background blurry. To do this we use a technique called 'panning'. Panning involves following your subject with the camera and taking the shot without stopping the movement of following the vehicle.

A good analogy would be the golf swing, you swing your club, hit the ball and the club continues in the same arc, even though the ball has already been hit.

So for this challenge, you will need to get out on your street again. If your camera has a continuous or 'servo' focus setting, use that. Your lens and camera should then track your moving object to try and maintain focus on it.

Start, by not taking any photos, but look through the viewfinder and just follow the vehicle as it passes by, try and keep a part of the vehicle in the same part of the frame as you 'pan' with the vehicle as it passes.

Practice this a few times without taking an actual shot.

Now set your camera to shutter mode and chose a shutter speed of about 1/30 - 1/60th second. Now as you pan with your vehicle try and keep a constant flowing motion as you follow the vehicle and press the shutter button, but keep the panning flow going. Do not stop or jerk as you take your shot, it should be one continuous fluid pan, following the vehicle, with a nice soft shutter press during it.

Try it with even slower shutter speeds, down to 1/15th second.

If you dont have access to decent regular traffic, try it on the kids riding bikes around, or a pet (dog) running around the yard etc. All you need is a moving object that moves across in front of you.

Panning can take a lot of practice to do well, but come back to this thread, post a couple of your shots and talk about them, what does the background look like, how does it differ from your shots in challenge II.

Panning is a good skill to learn as it is often used in sports photography, and to capture shots of birds in flight, as examples.

most of all, have fun!

[Miaow]

I really have to experiment with panning - will play around with this when have time. This is one thing i've never managed to try or get right lol :o

[bigdazzler]

Thought I might add something to Ricks info about panning. The more detail you have in your background, the more noticeable the blur effect will be.

For eg .. Try and picture panning a moving car that is passing through a tunnel against the backdrop of a plain coloured wall. The blur effect will be minimal because there is no detail in the wall. But if that wall was covered in grafitti or colourful posters or anything with lots of detail, the blur effect will be much more noticeable and obvious. :)

Ill definitely be taking on this challenge as it something ive been meaning to practice for a while now .. :th3:

[Jcas]

i can see this will require practice , i took advantage of having the paddock seeded.

This one is SS 1/60
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/JuCas/IMG_1708.jpg

This one is SS 1/30
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/JuCas/IMG_1709.jpg

This one is SS 1/20
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/JuCas/IMG_1710.jpg

This one is SS 1/15
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a113/JuCas/IMG_1711.jpg

I can see a difference in backgound blurr with each pic.

[ricktas]

Your 1/30 second shot came up well Julie. Well done. It does take practice, but its a good skill to have. As you can see from your results, it creates a dramatic and interesting photo. Well done.

[bigdazzler]

good work Julie .. not bad results at all. Love the last one .. looks like a supercharged tractor :D

[Kym]

Well done. This is harder than normal traffic at 60k/ph as tractors are slower. So extra well done!

[edenconnell]

1st image was taken at 1/125 sec

2nd and 3rd were taken at 1/160 sec

[bigdazzler]

thats the idea mate .. but i think if youre new to it youre better of panning something thats travelling a little slower. It will give you more time to focus track the subject in the viewfinder and get your flow on :D Shutter speeds of 1/30th, 1/60th are probably an easier thing to be starting off with.

[edenconnell]

Thanks for the tips, all shots were not as sharp as I would like to see....

I was really happy as my goal was to create a panning effect and it worked!

Off the topic:
How's the new bag Big Dazzler?

I have the Mini Trekker AW and I love it can fit so much stuff in

:)

[NikonNellie]

Well ....of course it's raining again.Will have to get back to you on this one when the weather clears up.

[bigdazzler]

Well ....of course it's raining again.Will have to get back to you on this one when the weather clears up.

I know , annoying isnt it Nellie .. I had some plans for this arvo shooting too .. dammit

[bigdazzler]

Off the topic:
How's the new bag Big Dazzler?

I have the Mini Trekker AW and I love it can fit so much stuff in

:)

Yea looks good mate .. Ive had the Nova AW200 shoulder bag for a while but it just gets to heavy to carry around all day with hepas of lenses and other crap in it, gets a bit taxing on the shoulder. So I wanted to get a pack. Got a deal too, well if you can call $100 for a bag a deal .. but i think they retail for about $160 or something ..

[Kerry]

I've not done any panning before - will have to give it a go!
But first, a question...
If your lens has IS, should it be on or off?

[ricktas]

I've not done any panning before - will have to give it a go!
But first, a question...
If your lens has IS, should it be on or off?

Depends on your Lens. Nikons have 3 VR settings, Off, 1, 2. One of those is full VR, the other is designed to remove vertical movement when panning. So check your lens manual for your particular combination

[edenconnell]

Yea looks good mate .. Ive had the Nova AW200 shoulder bag for a while but it just gets to heavy to carry around all day with hepas of lenses and other crap in it, gets a bit taxing on the shoulder. So I wanted to get a pack. Got a deal too, well if you can call $100 for a bag a deal .. but i think they retail for about $160 or something ..

Yeah thats a great price mine was $175 I love it....

Should do a review on this site......

Time will tell......

[Kym]

At the Airport - Tapley's Hill Road - Just tried a couple in between aircraft take-offs.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/3355004247_5bfdc90c8c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3355823796_988333babb_o.jpg

[Seven]

Now I know what you were doing Kym, Gonna have to try this and hopefully post soon

[yummymummy]

Ok, so the only thing that I had to practice panning on is the kids on their scooters..lol
here's my effort ..
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/kk434/yummymummy730/skatepark034.jpg

[ricktas]

Are you happy with how it turned out Kirsty? Fun challenge eh?

[yummymummy]

yeah!! I love it! This is a fun challenge, it took me a few goes to get it right, but in the end I had photos of them in mid air and everything! was awesome :D

[GregoryH]

Sunday mornings is a great time to see those fit bike riders. This was my first day at trying to pan..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3370192324_b07f43ae7e_o.jpg

[Seven]

Ok went down the local airport and thought I would give this ago.

Damm missed it by that much, hopefully with a bit more trial and error I can nail it.

I was fairly happy with this one for a first attempt.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3375016108_323cd96f36_b.jpg

[ricktas]

Good work guys, keep practising, it does take some skill to do well, but is an effective photography technique that can produce some brilliant results when done well.

[Hamish McHaggis]

I probably took 50 pics of passing cars, reckon this one turned out the best:
http://i43.tinypic.com/1pz9sk.jpg
About 5 mins after taking this, some bloke stopped, got out his car and asked why I was taking photos of him!
I guess people are entitled to their privacy...

[ricktas]

Good work Hamish, has the challenge taught you much about how shutter speeds can be creatively chosen to alter the way your scene looks?

Re Privacy, In Australia, if you are in public, you must expect to be photographed (I wonder if this same guy would stop and ask a speed camera operator why he was photographing him?), the laws do not allow for Privacy when in a public place. Remember that many shopping centres, and even open spaces are not necessarily public space. You can also photograph people on private property, if you, the photographer is standing on public land (think how the paparazzi work legally).

However, if you feel that rather than get into a pseudo legal argument, it is easier to delete the photo if requested, do so. Some people may be under witness protection etc, and may not want their photos taken for very valid reasons.

[jjphoto]

I probably took 50 pics of passing cars, reckon this one turned out the best:
http://i43.tinypic.com/1pz9sk.jpg
About 5 mins after taking this, some bloke stopped, got out his car and asked why I was taking photos of him!
I guess people are entitled to their privacy...

I never cease to be amuzed by the weird looks I get as I shoot panning shots on the side of the road, which I do quite a lot as I shoot editorial features for car magazines. I often practice on passing cars and often get images where the driver is staring at me ratrher than looking at where they are going. Yes, some stop and question your motives, assuming the worst of course.

Rick, excellent explaination. I'd add a few things. Try to use a monopod, it helps. Don't use IS, it really reduces your keeper rate. Try to shoot with the car close to a busy background such as lots of trees and shrubs. The proximity of the background exagerates the background blur significantly. It helps to have a reasonable distance between you and the car, I try to use a 70-200mm lens to give some idea of the distance.

The technique really does require smoothness and practice.

JJ

[Hamish McHaggis]

(I wonder if this same guy would stop and ask a speed camera operator why he was photographing him?)

reckon I got photographed by one of them at the weekend...just waiting for the letter in the mail :(

Yes, good explanation Rick - thanks. I do often feel a bit "odd" with the tripod and camera out in public. It helps if you're in a group.


I never cease to be amuzed by the weird looks I get as I shoot panning shots on the side of the road, which I do quite a lot as I shoot editorial features for car magazines. I often practice on passing cars and often get images where the driver is staring at me ratrher than looking at where they are going. Yes, some stop and question your motives, assuming the worst of course.

Rick, excellent explaination. I'd add a few things. Try to use a monopod, it helps. Don't use IS, it really reduces your keeper rate. Try to shoot with the car close to a busy background such as lots of trees and shrubs. The proximity of the background exagerates the background blur significantly. It helps to have a reasonable distance between you and the car, I try to use a 70-200mm lens to give some idea of the distance.

The technique really does require smoothness and practice.

JJ

Thanks for the tips John, very much appreciated :)

[Phill B]

Hi all.

My effort at panning - standing on the corner shooting cars & bikes as they go around the corner. This was the pick of them.

Thanks for any comments.

[ricktas]

Good work Phil. Great to see you out trying out the technique. Gives you a lot of respect for the Sport togs who produce those amazingly sharp and clear shots of a V8 doing close to 200kmh, with the blurred backgrounds eh.

[Phill B]

Good work Phil. Great to see you out trying out the technique. Gives you a lot of respect for the Sport togs who produce those amazingly sharp and clear shots of a V8 doing close to 200kmh, with the blurred backgrounds eh.

I thinks it is a simple case of practice, practice with more practice for good measure, oh, and a health does of talent - I can work on one aspect of it then....

[elgoogoogle]

Some these look great. i especially like the tractor. just to add to the original post when panning your shutter speed will depend how fast the subject is moving

here is a quick rundown of what works for me.

snail moving 30"
someone walking 1/30th
car driving 1/60-1/125
race car 1/125-1/200
plane 1/200-1/320

not every one will agree but i have gotten the best results using these figures.

NB: i am yet to be unsuccessful in capturing a good shot of a snail using panning as a technique. lol

[Wilky]

Not as part of the challenge but was certainly a challenge.

[carrg1954]

Is it ok to comment here ? hope so, if not I'm sure someone will jump in.
Panning with aircraft in mind and say a 300mm is starting at about 1/160 and then working down. 1/100 is a reasonable speed that will both give the panning you need and to have a reasonable propeller blur and giving that feeling they are not frozen. 1/80 if you have had plenty of practice and 1/60 and less if you are "feeling lucky". Be prepared to have a very low success rate and don't be too upset with yourself if it's only 1 to 2 % at these low shutter speeds, faster aircraft speeds, longer lens. Also plant your feet so you will end up facing the point where you are going to get the shot will also help. , hope this helps
regards

[darrend]

I'm quite interested in this area of photography. Here are some recent shots. My shutter speeds are a bit faster than others in this thread (around 1/250 for prop aircraft and helis), but as I improve with panning, I'd like to slow this to create more background blur.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4317100927_c707e209ef_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4284691938_de4556a028_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4321768254_7406586821_b.jpg

[justdave]

http://www.justdavephotography.com/forum/rob.jpg

http://www.justdavephotography.com/forum/nitro.jpg

a couple of mine

[SimiA]

some great photos in this thread.. id just like to say a few hints and tips that have worked for me.. please correct me if you feel i am wrong..

i find that the further away you are (using a longer lens) the easier panning is to do..
this is because the further away the car is the slower YOU will be moving the camera...

also i don't think it was stated earlier.. to keep a whole car or most of a car in focus you need to capture it side on (except for Dave's example above in which the car is actually going sideways)

if you would like to learn more this blog post has a lot of good information in it:
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/01/how-to-photograph-motorsports.html

[Clubmanmc]

Here are a couple of mine...

some notes...

a long lens will give you better back ground blur, but a wide lens up close will give you some amazing things too, bearing in mind that the blur in the b ack ground comes from 2 aspects, the first is the amount of time the camera moves with the shutter open from left to right (or right to left) but the second aspect is the relative movement of the back ground from near to far

an example is a 10mm lens, at full width, the feild of view is quite wide, but at the fringes the lens has a widening effect or light bending... so as you move it left to right, thre is a double effect on the motion blur...

ill get some pics and post them up later

here are some normal pans done with a 16-35, at 1/80th of a sec on manual focus

enjoy

M

[tanz]

I had a go at panning my daughters on the swings and it certainly is harder than it looks. This one was taken with the shutter speed at 1/20s and aperture f/10

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4815139260_92153320dc.jpg

[ricktas]

Good work Tanz, it is an effective technique, but it does require practice, but the results can be quite special as your photos shows.

[Kym]

Excellent use of panning Tanz!! Also got the intensity on her face.

[tanz]

Thanks Rick and Kym. I really enjoyed this challenge and know that I am going to be doing a lot more practice with this technique as I love the results.

[Milbs1]

Some great examples here. It took many many shots of my daughter on the slide (she was very patient but tiring by the time I got this one!)

F13 1/25 ISO200 50mm
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4641337861_fdbca297dc.jpg

[bigdazzler]

Thats a cool example Milbs .... you dont often see vertical motion blur. Good job.

[yogestee]

A couple from me..