Newbie Motorsport Advice

maff · 20-05-2005, 23:19

Hi all,

These are my first attempts at some Motorsports pictures, taken at the OPT D1 Drift day at Snetterton.

First off all these photos are taken with my camera just in automatic mode, im new to all this and just getting the moving car in the middle of the shot took a few attempts : see here for some pictures of car boots http://www.kardiak.co.uk/gal/drift/drift.html

Right heres some of the shots:

What i noticed looking at most of the shots is there is adistinct lack of movement, looks like most of the cars are parked, now i realize dropping the shutter speed will add more movement, but is that all there is to it? Any advice would be greatly apreciated.

Be gentle im new to this ;o)

Cheers all

Maff

Joe T · 21-05-2005, 08:54

Some good pictures there. I like the first one especially.

I see you are using a Fuji S5500.

The key to showing movement in a motorsport picture is to get a 'panning shot'.

Essentially, this means that you have to prefocus the camera on the spot where you want to take the picture. Then when the car comes into view, track it as it passes, and press the shutter when it reaches the desired spot. To start off with use shutter priority mode, with shutter speeds of around 1/320th or 1/250th. The key is to ensure that you follow through with the movement after you have pressed the shutter.

It takes a bit of practice, but within a few sessions, you will be producing some fantastic shots. For example, I only started taking motorsport pictures a few months ago
Hope this helps

***Steve*** · 21-05-2005, 10:43

Welcome to the forums maff

Like Joe T I like the first one from this set of pictures. It does seem ever so slightly soft in focus but nothing that a little sharpening in a photo editing package wouldn’t be able to correct.

Generally all of these shots have the “straight from camera” look and could do with a small amount of adjustments to the saturation and brightness to add in a little punch and bring them to life. By spending a little time on them they could really be brought to life.

Again I would have to agree with Joe T and say lower your shutter speed next time (if your camera allows it) and pan with the cars to get the feeling of speed and movement. This will make the pictures more exciting and interesting.

maff · 21-05-2005, 14:47

Nice shots Joe, whats the yellow car?

Thanks for the advice guys, ive fired up "the gimp" and had a bit of a play with the photos as sugested.

its certainly brought the pictures to life more, now as soon as it stops raining i can go practice the panning shot,.

CT · 21-05-2005, 16:10

Big improvement there. Check out the car pics in mags taken by pros, adverts particularly. The thing they always get is good colour saturation, which you rarely get straight out of the camera. Slight under-exposure helps colour saturation enormously, although most things can be corrected now in post processing.

IanC_UK · 21-05-2005, 17:04

Not bad shots Maff, what camera etc are you using ?

***Steve*** · 21-05-2005, 17:18

The processed images are far far better now. A great improvement. [smilie=t:

Joe T · 21-05-2005, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC_UK

Not bad shots Maff, what camera etc are you using ?

Its in the EXIF, and also stated in my post....

Massive improvement there maff.

maff · 21-05-2005, 19:57

Cheers all, yup its Fuji Finexpix S5500 all the exif info is in the pics.

Matty · 21-05-2005, 19:58

good shots, the S5000 is a class camera for the money, i was very impressed with mine..

20-05-2005, 23:19	#1 (permalink)
maff New here Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 3	Newbie Motorsport Advice Hi all, These are my first attempts at some Motorsports pictures, taken at the OPT D1 Drift day at Snetterton. First off all these photos are taken with my camera just in automatic mode, im new to all this and just getting the moving car in the middle of the shot took a few attempts : see here for some pictures of car boots http://www.kardiak.co.uk/gal/drift/drift.html Right heres some of the shots: What i noticed looking at most of the shots is there is adistinct lack of movement, looks like most of the cars are parked, now i realize dropping the shutter speed will add more movement, but is that all there is to it? Any advice would be greatly apreciated. Be gentle im new to this ;o) Cheers all Maff

21-05-2005, 10:43	#3 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 15,969	Welcome to the forums maff Like Joe T I like the first one from this set of pictures. It does seem ever so slightly soft in focus but nothing that a little sharpening in a photo editing package wouldn’t be able to correct. Generally all of these shots have the “straight from camera” look and could do with a small amount of adjustments to the saturation and brightness to add in a little punch and bring them to life. By spending a little time on them they could really be brought to life. Again I would have to agree with Joe T and say lower your shutter speed next time (if your camera allows it) and pan with the cars to get the feeling of speed and movement. This will make the pictures more exciting and interesting. __________________ .......__o .......\<, ....( )/ ( )

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21-05-2005, 08:54	#2 (permalink)
Joe T Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Amersham, Bucks Posts: 978	Some good pictures there. I like the first one especially. I see you are using a Fuji S5500. The key to showing movement in a motorsport picture is to get a 'panning shot'. Essentially, this means that you have to prefocus the camera on the spot where you want to take the picture. Then when the car comes into view, track it as it passes, and press the shutter when it reaches the desired spot. To start off with use shutter priority mode, with shutter speeds of around 1/320th or 1/250th. The key is to ensure that you follow through with the movement after you have pressed the shutter. It takes a bit of practice, but within a few sessions, you will be producing some fantastic shots. For example, I only started taking motorsport pictures a few months ago Hope this helps

21-05-2005, 14:47	#4 (permalink)
maff New here Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 3	Nice shots Joe, whats the yellow car? Thanks for the advice guys, ive fired up "the gimp" and had a bit of a play with the photos as sugested. its certainly brought the pictures to life more, now as soon as it stops raining i can go practice the panning shot,.

21-05-2005, 16:10	#5 (permalink)
CT Feet under the table Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Mids UK Posts: 3,500	Big improvement there. Check out the car pics in mags taken by pros, adverts particularly. The thing they always get is good colour saturation, which you rarely get straight out of the camera. Slight under-exposure helps colour saturation enormously, although most things can be corrected now in post processing.

21-05-2005, 17:04	#6 (permalink)
IanC_UK Feet under the table Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,137	Not bad shots Maff, what camera etc are you using ?

21-05-2005, 17:18	#7 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 15,969	The processed images are far far better now. A great improvement. [smilie=t:

21-05-2005, 19:57	#9 (permalink)
maff New here Join Date: May 2005 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 3	Cheers all, yup its Fuji Finexpix S5500 all the exif info is in the pics.

21-05-2005, 19:58	#10 (permalink)
Matty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kings hill Posts: 5,269	good shots, the S5000 is a class camera for the money, i was very impressed with mine..