Looking for advice on how to pan...

[bostran1]

Hey all,
I'm curious as to what advice some of the more experienced photographers here could give me on how to pan a shot. For example, if I want to take a shot of a car driving on a bright sunny day and keep the car in focus while the background gets a nice motion blur, how do you manage to keep your camera moving with the subject? Or is that even the right way to do it?

I know how to change my shutter speed so that I can get the motion blur (and have gotten quite good at taking stationary shots of moving object so the object is blurred!) but I just can't get a handle on how to pan my camera at the same time. I assume the key is just "practice, practice, practice" but I am hoping you have some other hints about shutter speed, etc. Go ahead and just assume its a nice sunny day. And no photoshop tricks, I already know how to do that!

Thanks

 

[Master Mason]

I honestly think it is just practice. Give your self the fastest shutter speed you can for the shot you want to take, and then just keep trying. I am hoping it gets easier as you get better at it, because I come out with about 1 keeper in 50 or so trys right now.

 

[handicap18]

You've got the shutter speed down, so now for the panning, just keep your subject centered in your viewfinder as you move with it. Start at one extreme or the other (left or right) then when the subject is in front of you snap the picture and keep moving with the subject. You move as fast as your subject moves.

Takes a little time to get the technique down, but it does get easier the more often you do it.

 

[bostran1]

I guess my problem is that once I hit the shutter button, I can no longer see the subject since I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Is there some sort of technique or setting I'm not familiar with that will allow me to see the subject while the shutter is open?

Looks like I'll be spending some weekends watching the traffic!

 

[ukcatfan]

I guess my problem is that once I hit the shutter button, I can no longer see the subject since I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Is there some sort of technique or setting I'm not familiar with that will allow me to see the subject while the shutter is open?

Looks like I'll be spending some weekends watching the traffic!

No, b/c it is not visible due to the mirror retracting.

Kevin

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Try different shutter speeds to see what works for you. It'll depend on what your focal length is. Try playing with different shutter speeds between about 1/15 to about 1/60 and see what works for you.

If you have a newer Canon IS lens or a Nikon VR lens, switch it to panning mode. That'll give you the benefit of IS in one dimension while letting you pan in the other. Someone said that some of the p&s cameras have this feature as well.

My personal favorite motion shot is this one of my kids on a sled:

I cheated and used a high shutter speed and then added the motion blur in Photoshop. I'm a lousy panner, so I often don't even bother trying. If I was doing a lot of shooting where it was important, I'd practice, practice, practice. As infrequently as I do it, I just cheat, cheat, cheat. Just don't forget to radial blur the wheels if you cheet on something with wheels.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

No, b/c it is not visible due to the mirror retracting.

Kevin

A rangefinder wouldn't have this issue. At one time Canon made abSLR camera (EOS 1N RS) that used a pellicle mirror and gave you a full time view through the viewfinder.

I'm not really sure how useful that is for panning shots, though, because I would think that during the 1/30s or so that it takes to take the shot, you won't be making any meaningful adjustments based on what you see. I would guess (not being able to shoot pans well, I can't claim to do anything but guess on proper technique) that the trick is to get your movement to syncrhonize with the subject before you press the shutter and to just keep a steady movement during the shot.

 

[bostran1]

No, b/c it is not visible due to the mirror retracting.

Kevin

That's what I figured. I guess I'll get to practicing and see what happens! Thanks, everyone.

 

[disneyfan2]

My personal favorite motion shot is this one of my kids on a sled:

I love this shot, i can only dream of taking photos this nice..

 

[SharonLowe]

I guess my problem is that once I hit the shutter button, I can no longer see the subject since I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Is there some sort of technique or setting I'm not familiar with that will allow me to see the subject while the shutter is open?

Looks like I'll be spending some weekends watching the traffic!

Try to keep your other eye open - takes practice too. And, hold the camera firmly with both hands; move from the hips. Also, especially while practicing, don't zoom in too closely. And, yes, try different shutter speeds. It does take tons of practice.

 

[bostran1]

Try to keep your other eye open

That's great advice. I'll remember it during my hours of practice! Thank you.

 

[jann1033]

not an expert at this at all but from my limited experience, try going someplace there are not a lot of people...i tried it at a public sledding hill and inevitably as soon as i'd click the shutter someone would stroll in front of me i have never had so many people walk in front of me!
guess they figure you already took the shot long ago or something but it got really annoying to have umpteen total strangers' noses in the shot.
the best ones i took where when i just turned the upper part of my body and kept my feet planted.

 

[Magix]

You don't need to see the subject while you're snapping the shot. Just manually focus on the point where you want to take the picture, in advance, and have it be roughly in front of you. Then, plant your feet on the ground, about shoulder-width apart, turn your torso toward where the subject will be approaching you from, pick up the subject in your viewfinder, follow along with the subject until it's in the area you focused on in advance, hit the shutter button and keep turning your torso at the same speed, until you can see through your shutter again. This is the same kind of follow-through you'd do with a golf swing. Don't stop panning when you hit the shutter, stop after the picture has been taken. You'll get a nice background blur with a focused subject (well, most of the time). It does take practice and you're ALWAYS going to get some bad shots, but the good ones will be worth it!

For shutter settings, set the shutter speed at the rough equivalent of the focal point you're using on your lens. Example, if you're using a zoom lens at 100mm, set your shutter at something close to 1/100th. If that doesn't work for you, slow the shutter speed down one notch, until you find the right speed for you.

 

[bostran1]

Great advice. Thanks!

 

[handicap18]

I guess my problem is that once I hit the shutter button, I can no longer see the subject since I'm using a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Is there some sort of technique or setting I'm not familiar with that will allow me to see the subject while the shutter is open?

Looks like I'll be spending some weekends watching the traffic!

Its really a non issue as the shutter will be closed for a split second. Just like you don't miss anything when you blink.

Just like with anything else,,,, practice practice practice...

"we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man." allen iverson

 

[extreme8]

I got what I think is a heck of a panning shot this weekend.
Runnin' about 160 mph.
The chain link & support poles just about disappear with a pan like this.
I had quite a few keepers, but my delete button got WAY more action than ever before.

 

[bostran1]

Wow, that is sharp! Great job!

 

[bostran1]

Well here is the first one I tried. Coincidentally, it was also the best.

Link