Capturing Motion

[wenrob]

Hey Everyone!

We're heading to DL in about a week and a half! I have my notes and am hoping to capture some good stuff. That said, with two 4year olds my focus is generally on stopping motion not capturing it. In a nutshell I want to get a pic of the kids on Dumbo where they're sharp but the background shows the motion. I know I'm going to have to close it down quite a bit but I don't want to lose my quality either. The thing is it will probably be full daylight. (that ride is a heck of a wait if you don't hit it early) What's the fastest I can go and still achieve this? Playing around outside this morning I couldn't get the camera any slower then F/22 SS 125. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[photo_chick]

To get the kids sharp on the ride but the background to show motion you can do a few things. The ones that come to mind are....

Pan with the ride.

Shoot on the ride

use photoshop

Others might have different ways they'd go about getting it. The fastest shutter speed you'd use depends on how you shoot it and how fast the ride is moving, your distance to the subject... it's hard to say from sitting here. You don't really need to stop it down so far either. No reason to unless you're right up on your subjects and you shouldn't need if your ISO is at 100. I'd start by using the slowest shutter speed where you feel you can capture your subjects. And again, that will depend on how you approach the shot. But 1/125 is pretty slow and I don't know that I'd go much slower than that.

 

[wenrob]

To get the kids sharp on the ride but the background to show motion you can do a few things. The ones that come to mind are....

Pan with the ride.

Shoot on the ride

use photoshop

Others might have different ways they'd go about getting it. The fastest shutter speed you'd use depends on how you shoot it and how fast the ride is moving, your distance to the subject... it's hard to say from sitting here. You don't really need to stop it down so far either. No reason to unless you're right up on your subjects. I'd start by using the slowest shutter speed where you feel you can capture your subjects. And again, that will depend on how you approcah the shot.

Yeah, I have no idea how fast it is, I haven't been on it since I was a little kid. I did plan on being in the elephant behind them so #3 sounds like it may work. Thanks! In my head I keep thinking F/8 1/60-1/80.

You use Nikon, have you ever used the Lo ISO setting? I always leave it at 200 when outdoors. I've heard the Hi affects quality but never hear anything about Lo. Something about they're not 'real' ISOs.

I have it down for Pirates, night shots, day time, inside. This is just the one thing I don't have much experience at.

 

[photo_chick]

1/60 to 1/80 might be too slow, depending on the focal length. Keep in mind the extra camera shake caused by being on the ride.

I'm a Canon user so I can't help with the low ISO question. I think though it comes down to how much noise is tolerable for you. If 100 looks good to you, use it.

 

[wenrob]

1/60 to 1/80 might be too slow, depending on the focal length. Keep in mind the extra camera shake caused by being on the ride.

I'm a Canon user so I can't help with the low ISO question. I think though it comes down to how much noise is tolerable for you. If 100 looks good to you, use it.

Why did I think you shot Nikon? I'm not sure why I had those #s in my head. That's actually good news though considering it will probably be bright out. The D90 handles noise very well and other then pixel peeping (which I try not to do) I have a pretty high tolerance for it. I guess we will have to ride multiple times to get it right. Sure the little ones won't mind, lol!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Another way of blurring the background to resemble motion is with depth of field. You can open up the aperture which decreases depth of field allowing for faster shutter speeds and using a spot focus. You should be able to get a good bokeh, which can resemble motion. If you do that with a pan it may even be better. You can experiment and see if it works.

 

[mom2rtk]

Will someone be in the ride car with them? I always grab the car in front of my daughter so I can turn around to photograph her. What you can't simulate at home is the motion of the car. I know Astroorbiter is a faster ride, but I know my photos on that ride have always shown the motion pretty well even in daylight. I'm thinking maybe the same could happen with Dumbo if you go as slow as possible on the SS.

 

[wenrob]

Will someone be in the ride car with them? I always grab the car in front of my daughter so I can turn around to photograph her. What you can't simulate at home is the motion of the car. I know Astroorbiter is a faster ride, but I know my photos on that ride have always shown the motion pretty well even in daylight. I'm thinking maybe the same could happen with Dumbo if you go as slow as possible on the SS.

Yes, my oldest will be with them. So I should be in front of them you think? Yeah, that's where I'm having my problem. I can practice most everything else but this? LOL Even putting the kids on the swing it's just not the same thing. Would love to see your pics!

Giana's Grandpa, thank you. I do know how to work depth of field but I really want that 'whirring' feel to it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, for the life of me I can't remember which trip those Astro-orbiter photos are from, but if it comes to me I'll post one.

This doesn't show motion, but it give you an idea of what a nice perspective you can get from the car in front of them. Tell the 13 year old to be sure the car goes down a couple times when you go up, so you can shoot down at them.

 

[Shutterbug]

I shoot photos for my auto-x club. For cars out on the course I usually set to Tv(shutter priority) and set at 1/250(of course Dumbo doesnt go quite as fast so a slower shutterspeed may be needed ) I do it all handheld (too much going on to use a monopod)

To get photos that show motion while your subject is sharp, takes a steady even panning motion. It also helps if your subject stays in the same focal plane as you as you are taking the pic. Notice in the pic above the car is going exactly right to left. Its also going in a straight line perpendicular to my position.

So if you want to take a pic from a spot away from the ride my suggestion is start to focus on the ride vehicle they are in as they are coming toward you and just as they pass directly in front of you take the pic as you are still panning with the Dumbo.

Also I like mom2rtk's vantage point. You could do a motion capture from that vantage point as well if you could plant both arms against your seat to hold the camera steady. Then experiment with different shutter speeds.

I also like the others idea of taking the pic in car. This would keep your subject in the same constant focal plane. Just keep your arms as steady as possible I sometimes plant my elbows against my body to help steady it.

Just experiment with diff shutter speeds

 

[wenrob]

Thanks for all your help guys.

Momr2tk-such pretty little Princesses! Thanks for posting that.

Shutterbug-I will certainly give panning a try, thanks for adding details for me.

I had the bright idea to search Flickr and Smugmug. Seems most of the shots that have the effect I'm going for are in the evening so lower light, slower shutter speed. May have to hit it when Fantasmic or the fireworks are happening. I hope I don't make my kids hate this ride, lol!

 

[disneyboy2003]

I would recommend that your *first* few photos should be the sharp photos that stop the motion (ie. photos with faster shutter speeds). Because the Dumbo ride is so short, you should get the "money shots" first before experimenting with the motion blur photos.

For the motion blur photos, you're gonna have to do that panning technique that others have mentioned. I would probably go with a shutter speed of 1/30 to 1/60 sec with panning. Keep your ISO at 200, which is your lowest, unless you can set it for lower. And then use whatever aperture your camera tells you to. So maybe you'll want to shoot in Shutter Priority mode for this.

With panning, it can be hit or miss...with a lot of misses, so keep trying.

And, worst case scenario, if the panning photos don't turn out, you can always use Photoshop on the sharp photos and create the motion blur artificially.

See if that helps.

 

[wenrob]

I would recommend that your *first* few photos should be the sharp photos that stop the motion (ie. photos with faster shutter speeds). Because the Dumbo ride is so short, you should get the "money shots" first before experimenting with the motion blur photos.

For the motion blur photos, you're gonna have to do that panning technique that others have mentioned. I would probably go with a shutter speed of 1/30 to 1/60 sec with panning. Keep your ISO at 200, which is your lowest, unless you can set it for lower. And then use whatever aperture your camera tells you to. So maybe you'll want to shoot in Shutter Priority mode for this.

With panning, it can be hit or miss...with a lot of misses, so keep trying.

And, worst case scenario, if the panning photos don't turn out, you can always use Photoshop on the sharp photos and create the motion blur artificially.

See if that helps.

Oh absolutely will be getting the sharp photos first. We'll be there a few days so I'm pretty sure we'll be riding it several times. (little ones w/tics=fast passes and rider swap so we will have plenty of opportunity to hit the big rides without stress.)