May AX photographer - test shots - please comment

[lagunamiata]

My friend Josh is going to be there on Saturday to photograph the AX. The other day he and his dad went out to a vacant parking lot and took some "action" shots. Please take a look and comment here on his work. If there is something that you think should be different let me know and I'll pass the comments on to him.

Link - www.mrbarz.fotki.com/panning_practice/

[lagunamiata]

Here are some of the shots...








And a quick PhotoShop job he did...

[jbrotbeck]

Dayum!!!!

That is spectacular!

[ROADBOY]

Allready posted in the other thread but here it is.


I think they look pretty good.

I personally was looking for someone who would run a video camera for the weekend. I have the camera, just need someone to run it.

[prancingdawg]

Nice body roll!

[ROADBOY]

Ha ha ha, sounds like a JB comment

[lagunamiata]

prancingdawg said:

Nice body roll!

Stock sway bars and KYB AGXs are probably set on a low setting.

[lagunamiata]

roadboy said:

I personally was looking for someone who would run a video camera for the weekend. I have the camera, just need someone to run it.

Can't help you there... I think Josh will be pretty busy shooting still shots.

[jbyrd]

prancingdawg said:

Nice body roll!

[crocidile dundee voice]

Body roll?

That's not body roll.




















Now, this is body roll!



[/crocidile dundee voice]

lagunamiata said:

Stock sway bars and KYB AGXs are probably set on a low setting.

roadboy said:

Ha ha ha, sounds like a JB comment

[crocidile dundee voice]

Now, that's a JB comment!

[/crocidile dundee voice]












Another Miata.


















Bring it on.

[prancingdawg]

But can he photopgraph the scantilly clad wimmenses???

[C4Shane]

I like how PDawg always cuts to the chase....Priorities, Priorities......Glad to see we agree...

So, fer example...can he photograph Helment Hotties?

[jbyrd]

The photos were nice, btw.

[lagunamiata]

saabstory said:

I like how PDawg always cuts to the chase....Priorities, Priorities......Glad to see we agree...

So, fer example...can he photograph Helment Hotties?

I bet he can!! I'll make sure to mention that to Josh.

[lagunamiata]

jbyrd said:

Another Miata.

Bring it on.

I've been trying to get Dana to bring the car out for a while... he's not interrested for some reason.

[jbyrd]

I know why!!!! He ain't got enough "body roll" to keep ups wit dis!!!

[ROADBOY]

lagunamiata said:

roadboy said:

I personally was looking for someone who would run a video camera for the weekend. I have the camera, just need someone to run it.

Can't help you there... I think Josh will be pretty busy shooting still shots.

I figuered that would be the case. I mentioned it just in case somone else was willing to jump it.

[clint]

jbyrd said:

I know why!!!! He ain't got enough "body roll" to keep ups wit dis!!!

Both JB's car and that Miata look like they're on stock sway bars and springs. My car rolled that much when it was stock, but not any more! See, body roll = bad; especially for a non-stock class car ;D

[soloracer]

Nice pictures. Iwould be interested in some of the Mustang. And a few of any helmet-hotties.
and perhaps a side order of hot buttered body rolls.
James

[volksman]

You're asking for comments, so with the qualifier that I can't do any better, here goes.

If you want an action shot, then the third is the best. The other two don't show movement other than spinning wheels. They are nice pics, but look stationary. Good focus, and light. Pic four is a better angle, but a little too close unles it's for an avatar.

Photo one would be a good angle for a start line launch, getting the rear end down and nose up.

That being said, I know that this is tough to do, often requires a spotter, uber bucks for lenses and other bits, and is often thankless. My sisters wedding photographer spent a day taking pics with no film.( yes he got sued) If he gets a good shot of my car, I'd gladly pay for the effort

Is that old curcuit city lot big enough to run on?

[lagunamiata]

Not big enough for us to have an event... They were just messing around doing some practice shots.

I'll pass the comments on to Josh. I know he's looking for good comments.

[m3]

OK, more comments. First I must say that I'm NOT a professional photographer -- never have been, never will be. But, I got into photography as a hobby at a very young age and, after a long drought, autox has recently renewed my interest.

Basically, there are two kinds of action shots. The first is what I call "stop motion" shots. This is where you use a fast shutter speed to freeze everything in place. With this type of shot, framing is everything. Since everything is sharp and in focus, you need something to convey motion -- for instance a car coming towards you while turning:












Or, a car that has just knocked down a cone:





Or, a car with a wheel in the air:





The other type of action shot is a blur where the subject is sharp and in focus while the background and foreground are blurred. This is done by panning with the subject while using a relatively slow shutter speed. I think this is what your friend was attempting with photos #2 & #3 in the linked photo gallery. I noticed the info indicated a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second. At that range, 1/30 works much better.

Let me emphasize that these shots are VERY difficult to get right. Out of 100 shots you might get a handful that look OK, but the really great ones will be very few and far between. A few tips: Set the camera on shutter priority mode (or whatever your camera maker calls it) so you can pick the shutter speed and let the camera do the rest. Again, 1/30 of a second works pretty well. Take a good stance with your feet about shoulder width apart. Grasp the camera firmly with both hands - I like to use my left hand on the bottom of the camera. Plan ahead the point at which you will release the shutter. Start tracking the car WELL before it gets to your spot. As it passes, GENTLY squeeze the shutter button and, this is probably the most important point of all, FOLLOW THROUGH. And be patient. And practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!! If you spend enough time, and take enough photos (should be pretty cheap with digital ) eventually you will get a few that look like this:










(can you tell I favor the left-to-right pan )

Again, I'm not a pro by any means. But, with a little patience (and a camera that let's you set the shutter speed) almost anyone can get really good autox photos.

If you'd like to see anymore of the photos I've taken over the past year or so, go here and click on my gallery (///M3). Hope this helps.

[jbyrd]

Shane,
Excellent Pans!!!!