Many of the best motorsports photos have one thing in common: a real feeling of speed. Fast shutter speeds will freeze moments of action, and highoctane car and bike racing are perfect subjects for this treatment.
At 1/3200 sec you can capture a crisp shot of a motorbike zooming round a circuit; however, you’ll also freeze the background and wheels, removing any indication of motion, and for all the viewer can tell, your subject could be parked on the track. To retain that sense of motion you need to shoot at a much slower shutter speed, but the problem here is that this will blur the entire subject.
The answer is to sight and track your subject through the viewfinder, match its speed while engaging continuous focus, and press the shutter when everything is perfectly framed. This technique is called panning – do it in one fluid movement and you’ll capture spinning wheels and a tack-sharp subject surrounded by smooth lines of motion blur.
Faster subjects and slower shutter speeds result in more motion, but it becomes harder to keep the subject sharp. 1/320 sec is a good middle ground that provides decent motion blur and a high hit rate of sharp subjects, but feel free to shoot at faster shutter speeds to begin with. So read on and get panning: you’ll be shooting super-slick shots of speeding bikes and cars in no time at all!
1 USE A LONG LENS
A lens with a large zoom range is preferred – the Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 we’re using is an ideal choice. It boasts plenty of reach for when you’re positioned far from the track, but is still suitable if you can get a little bit closer to the action. If you can get fairly close to the track then a 70-200mm lens will be sufficient.
Esta historia es de la edición May 11, 2023 de Photography week.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 11, 2023 de Photography week.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
POLAROID I-2
With full manual controls and a huge price tag, is this instant camera worth the big bucks?
HOW TO...GO MONO WITH PROFILES
James Paterson shows you how to create brilliant black-and-white images with ease using Profiles
UNDERSTAND COLOUR THEORY
Adam Waring takes you back to art class with a primer in colour theory
MEET THE YOUNGSTER WITH A EYE FOR A WINNING PHOTO
Jamie Smart won a top contest aged just eight, and she's only just getting started
FAMILY BUSINESS
Pro portrait photographer Catherine O'Donnell passes on her top tips and techniques for capturing sponateous and engaging family photos in the studio
TTARTISAN'S MONSTER ZOOM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR DSLR
Affordable 500mm f/6.3 is released in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts
SONY FE 24-50MM F2.8 G
A compact standard zoom with compromises
HOW TO...BOOST RAW PORTRAITS
James Paterson shows you how to use the Develop Persona in Affinity Photo to enhance portraits
INFRARED ON A BUDGET
Mike Harris shows you how to shoot infrared images without investing in a costly camera conversion
THE ONLY WAY IS UP FOR THESE AERIAL PHOTO ACES
SkyPixel contest showcases stunning stills and video captured using drones