Hey everyone! Did you miss me last week? I really tried to pull something together, but I procrastinated, then it was my birthday and my 2 best friends were in town (see pics here), so luckily Amy saved the day with a little something in her back pocket.
I must admit that I struggle to find topics that will relate to all types of photography enthusiasts. I know some have businesses, some take pics for fun, some have a dslr, some don’t, some have no clue about photoshop, while other know more than me, or even use Lightroom. So I am taking a little poll before we get into our discussion. I need to figure out where the majority lies to better cater to your needs.
Vote Here
So has anyone ever heard of Panning? It is a photography technique often associated with sports photography, because you are looking for the background motion and a still subject. For this to work, you need a slow shutter speed, and best used with a tripod.
I took 100 shots of my sis in law and only got a handful of decent images. Isn’t she a great poser?
Panning tips
- Set your cameras shutter speed to either 1/15th/sec or 1/30th/sec, basically slow enough to cause movement as you swing or pan the camera. The aperture and depth of field are somewhat irrelevant as the background will be blurred anyway.
- Set the autofocus to AI servo in order to “track” the moving object
- Set on continuous mode so you can snap, snap, snap a bunch in a row
- Plan to “pan” from left to right (or vice versa) and follow the object while standing in one spot
- Slow shutter speed, about 1/30 second
- Use a tripod to keep your camera level while panning. Simply rotate the camera left or right to pan with a tripod. If you don’t use a tripod, and your hand is not steady, you will produce a vertical blur and ruin the shot
If you can tell from the 2 shots above, my most accurate sharp image was when she was right in front of me. Grabbing the focus when she was off to the side was more difficult. Also, notice she is pretty close to me (maybe 10 feet). When she was further away, the background didn’t produce as dramatic of an effect.
Even this one, she is a bit closer, but not far enough. This is my crispest image, but not quite the same blur as my first shot above.
A few years ago, my hubby did a bike race, and I got to take some cool shots of him. I was in the passenger seat and my mom was driving alongside him. I keep saying I want to do this again, but to set something up like this is a daunting task. It takes 3 people: subject, driver, shooter. This was a bit of a different panning technique because I moved along with the object instead of standing still. Less of a need for a tripod because I wasn’t moving from left to right, but stabilizied by the car under my elbow.
Didn’t quite get the same effect, but cool nonetheless. It was easier to focus on him as I rode alongside him.
So try something different, set up a panning photoshoot and take a bunch! I found this video tutorial online that might be helpful to some.
P.S. I got a new blogsite, so go check it out and become a follower (even if you already were on my old blog) and you could win a prize!
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I SOSOSOSO look forward to your posts. Loving your new blog and love the photo tips. THANKS!
I never thought about this technique and I will now have to give it a try. I love the shot of your hubby and especially love that you were able to catch the little green bicycle sign in the background. Details male the difference!! Question, totally unrelated to the topic of the post…what kind of bike was your sis in law riding? I am looking to purchase one just like that. Thanks Kristen!!
I don't know how to answer on the poll: I only have a digital camera and no experience with photo shop but I want to get a good king of camera and learn photo shop. Perhaps you could give some pointers for newbs like me?
Wow, I can't wait to try this myself. I have a Rebel XTi and would love to buy a tripod and a lense. :) aaaah someday!
Blessings,
Sandra
I love your posts. I had an idea for a post. One of your posts you sent your photos in to get printed I think it was for your canvas. You sized the photo down and asked them to cut it in a section you made green. How do you do that? How do you get good shots when you send them in. It seems like everytime I upload them to Sams or Costco it is always cutting everything off. REALLY Annoying and now I won't send them in because it is such a pain to adjust 300 pictures. Keep up the great work I love learning from you. I only have a point and shoot but would love a dslr to play with.
Thanks for this Kristen……I've had this on my "to do" list to try.
Carla, I actually just got this bike from walmart.com with free shipping! It was about $85. I had an old one my hubby was going to fix up for me, but we decided it would cost more to fix it up. I just got a basket for the front and want to get something for the back.
Thanks for the lesson!!! I tried it and I got 1 awesome photo out of A LOT!
Here is the link to my pic…
http://purplepolkadotsak.blogspot.com/2010/07/panning.html
I always enjoy reading your posts!
Can I make a suggestion on what I'd like to see a post or two on?
Metering and histogram use. I always see talk about metering (ie: I meter off the subjects skin)….what exactly does that mean? I use the little thing I see inside my viewfinder with the 0 in the center, and I adjust my aperture or ss acordingly, but sometime I can click several times and it's still set on the 0….is this what metering is? and I'm assuming it changes according to what you are pointing at in the center of your viewfinder? and how do you use they histogram????
Tidy Mom–will do. I meter a bit differently, but the line on the inside with the 0 is the right idea. I don't use histograms, but I know the idea. Will research and share that one.
I tried to vote again on the poll… because I bought my first DSLR yesterday!!! Woo Hoo!!! Nikon D90 and I'm totally in LOVE. Keep the tuts coming… I'm learning SO much from you!
Cool shots! I wonder if this would work with a p&s? May have to try! Thanks for the tips!