how to photograph motorsports?
Discussion
just bought myself a canon 40d with 17-85 lens & i'm looking to learn how to photograph cars at speed
i've visited a couple of track days to get a feel of the equipment but i'm struggling to get the cars in focus (most tracks i've visited you can't get too close to the action) whilst still achieving the visual impression of speed. obviously i'm trying to get the foreground & background kind of blurred with some movement in the wheels & the bulk of the car in focus.
does anyone out there have any advice? obviously if you have any shots using the equipment i have that would be great but really i'm looking for general advice. i'm looking at buyig a better lens but i don't want to throw loads of money away on one that won't do the job or even worse a one that can do the job but that i can't get set up right!
so far my best results are by using a fast shutter speed & blurring the wheels in photoshop but i feel like thats cheating!
any advice would be greatly appreciated as there's a local motorcross event this weekend & as long as the weather holds out i'd like to try out some new techniques
cheers,
dave
i've visited a couple of track days to get a feel of the equipment but i'm struggling to get the cars in focus (most tracks i've visited you can't get too close to the action) whilst still achieving the visual impression of speed. obviously i'm trying to get the foreground & background kind of blurred with some movement in the wheels & the bulk of the car in focus.
does anyone out there have any advice? obviously if you have any shots using the equipment i have that would be great but really i'm looking for general advice. i'm looking at buyig a better lens but i don't want to throw loads of money away on one that won't do the job or even worse a one that can do the job but that i can't get set up right!
so far my best results are by using a fast shutter speed & blurring the wheels in photoshop but i feel like thats cheating!
any advice would be greatly appreciated as there's a local motorcross event this weekend & as long as the weather holds out i'd like to try out some new techniques
cheers,
dave
Lots of good advice on here!
Edited to say, buy a 70-200 of some sort, I recommend the f2.8IS
To get the background blurry, slooooow shutter speed, 1/40-1/125 ish and a steady hand!
This was at 1/40th, hand-held.
Got my first "motorsport" event of the year this weekend, Hot Hatch day, should be called Wacky Races
Looking forward to it though, better dust down the old cream zooms!
Edited to say, buy a 70-200 of some sort, I recommend the f2.8IS
To get the background blurry, slooooow shutter speed, 1/40-1/125 ish and a steady hand!
This was at 1/40th, hand-held.
Got my first "motorsport" event of the year this weekend, Hot Hatch day, should be called Wacky Races
Looking forward to it though, better dust down the old cream zooms!Edited by 4hero on Thursday 18th February 22:02
First thing I would say is invest in a lot longer lens. "kit" lenses ar OK for paddock & atmosphere shots, but for action type stuff there are very few opportunities at Circuits in this country to get close enough for them to be of any use.
There are plenty of longer lenses about (say 70-300mm) that wouldn't break the bank
Once equiped go out and practice - Improvement does come with practice. You will get to know the capabilities of your kit and whether you feel you would like to take it further.
There are plenty of longer lenses about (say 70-300mm) that wouldn't break the bank
Once equiped go out and practice - Improvement does come with practice. You will get to know the capabilities of your kit and whether you feel you would like to take it further.
dwint said:
obviously i'm trying to get the foreground & background kind of blurred with some movement in the wheels & the bulk of the car in focus... so far my best results are by using a fast shutter speed & blurring the wheels in photoshop but i feel like thats cheating!
Wrong way, try a slower shutter speed - maybe 1/125th for starters and then nature does the blurring for you. Oh yes, and pan! NB: As covboy said, 70-300mm lenses are affordable and should allow you to get decent shots.
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 18th February 21:57
Hi 4hero had a look at your photo of Focus in forest that what im looking for thanks
4hero said:
Lots of good advice on here!
Edited to say, buy a 70-200 of some sort, I recommend the f2.8IS
To get the background blurry, slooooow shutter speed, 1/40-1/125 ish and a steady hand!
This was at 1/40th, hand-held.
Got my first "motorsport" event of the year this weekend, Hot Hatch day, should be called Wacky Races Looking forward to it though, better dust down the old cream zooms!
Edited to say, buy a 70-200 of some sort, I recommend the f2.8IS
To get the background blurry, slooooow shutter speed, 1/40-1/125 ish and a steady hand!
This was at 1/40th, hand-held.
Got my first "motorsport" event of the year this weekend, Hot Hatch day, should be called Wacky Races
Looking forward to it though, better dust down the old cream zooms!Edited by 4hero on Thursday 18th February 22:02
4hero said:
dwint said:
4hero said:
PaulHogan said:
Monopod.
Girl 
he'd thought a monopost would be a good way of improving his shots & was pleased he was on the right track
we did a search on his camera model & some of your shots came up,that forest pic of the focus wrc is quality.
Any ideas on how to get the best from the kit lens before he goes out & buys another one?or do you guys think he's up against it shooting fast moving things at a distance?
Welcome to pistonheads dad!
ahh, I see, welcome Craig's Dad 
Not so keen on monopods myself, bought a manfrotto one and it's lay in my cupboard (used once), more trouble that it was worth in my opinion.
You should get ok results with the 17-85 if you can get close enough. The focus was shot with a 17-40, shot at 17mm, (I was standing about 6 feet away from the car though, which isn't really recommended). Just get out there and practice with the camera, and stick the camera on M, learn ISO, shutter speed etc. It's the only way to learn
Edited to add, the focus shot wasn't entirely straight from the camera, quite a bit of work was done in lightroom/photomatix/photoshop.
HDR motorsport, whatever next!
Not so keen on monopods myself, bought a manfrotto one and it's lay in my cupboard (used once), more trouble that it was worth in my opinion.
You should get ok results with the 17-85 if you can get close enough. The focus was shot with a 17-40, shot at 17mm, (I was standing about 6 feet away from the car though, which isn't really recommended). Just get out there and practice with the camera, and stick the camera on M, learn ISO, shutter speed etc. It's the only way to learn
Edited to add, the focus shot wasn't entirely straight from the camera, quite a bit of work was done in lightroom/photomatix/photoshop.
HDR motorsport, whatever next!
Edited by 4hero on Thursday 18th February 23:18
I love motorsport photography. I spent 3 days at Knockhill last year over the BSB weekend and took 3500 pictures. Most of which, were s
t.
I use a 400D and a Sigma 70-300 for on track stuff. Its ok for Knockhill, but frustratingly just not long enough for somewhere like Le Mans.
Sometimes, you get it nearly right
Sometimes, you get it just about spot on...
...before quickly running out of talent
Personally, as long as I'm having fun, I dont mind if the pictures are st
t. I use a 400D and a Sigma 70-300 for on track stuff. Its ok for Knockhill, but frustratingly just not long enough for somewhere like Le Mans.
Sometimes, you get it nearly right
Sometimes, you get it just about spot on...
...before quickly running out of talent
Personally, as long as I'm having fun, I dont mind if the pictures are s
t +1 for a monopod - my 300mm f4 Nikon weighs a ton. Oh and take lot's of photo's... your chances of coming away with something you like and want to hang on the wall is greatly increased. Turn on continuous(or whatever Canon call it)and keep the big chrome button pushed down.
The other obvious point is that some events let you closer to the action than others - Silverstone, Le Mans etc really need a big lens etc. for on track stuff. A local hill climb will get you much nearer the track.
The other obvious point is that some events let you closer to the action than others - Silverstone, Le Mans etc really need a big lens etc. for on track stuff. A local hill climb will get you much nearer the track.
I don't have anything like the lenses or cameras being used above... but I see no point in a monopod.
There were both taken handheld on a D50 with a Sigma 70-300mm, it's practice once you get to see the shutter speed that gives the amount of blur you're after in my opinion.
I really like both of these but would be interested to know others comments (second one isn't as sharp as i'd like).
There were both taken handheld on a D50 with a Sigma 70-300mm, it's practice once you get to see the shutter speed that gives the amount of blur you're after in my opinion.
I really like both of these but would be interested to know others comments (second one isn't as sharp as i'd like).
nonuts said:
I don't have anything like the lenses or cameras being used above... but I see no point in a monopod.
There were both taken handheld on a D50 with a Sigma 70-300mm, it's practice once you get to see the shutter speed that gives the amount of blur you're after in my opinion.
I really like both of these but would be interested to know others comments (second one isn't as sharp as i'd like).
There were both taken handheld on a D50 with a Sigma 70-300mm, it's practice once you get to see the shutter speed that gives the amount of blur you're after in my opinion.
I really like both of these but would be interested to know others comments (second one isn't as sharp as i'd like).
laptop screen sucks but you get the idea, bit of crop of the space behind and in front, bit more saturation, probably bit OT on sharpening the body. Is it an improvement?
many 70-300 lenses aren't that heavy, but when you're dealing with a lens thats 1.5 - 2kg in weight, then a monopod becomes quite useful, especially if you're on your feet all day covering a BTCC meeting for example. You only get one back in your lifetime, so making it last is a good idea!
norwichphoto said:
many 70-300 lenses aren't that heavy, but when you're dealing with a lens thats 1.5 - 2kg in weight, then a monopod becomes quite useful, especially if you're on your feet all day covering a BTCC meeting for example. You only get one back in your lifetime, so making it last is a good idea!
Monopod is no good if you are carrying two lenses this weight though Get some nice straps and you hardly notice they are there! Spend many a day at knockhill and never felt the need for a monopod.nonuts said:
Yeah, I see what you mean, however that was straight off the camera as that was the one I'd uploaded to photobucket. Don't really do playing, my limit is just about managing to use 'crop' in lightroom.
tbh Elements8 and about a minute, what can I say not really one to provide advise 
O/P Tamron 70-300mm for under £100 new (must be able to pick the up cheap secondhand) is worth a punt if only an occasional lens imho
Practice, practice, practice and some practice is what it took for me to take any sort of motorsport photo I was happy with.
All of these were taken with 450D & 70-200mm F4 Canon L series. I've practiced using all sorts of shutter speeds, apertures to look at the effects on depth of field and the effects it has on blurring, b&w, all sorts . .. I also vary which focus point I use and whether it's set for one shot, or it tracks with the panning shot which mainly I use.
I've took 1000's of shots last year and all of these below are some of the better ones. From all of the shots I took I only have a handful that I'm really happy with.
All of these were taken handheld, no monopod. I'm buying a 100-400mm Canon L before the race season starts for me and a monopod to have a go with due to the longer lens, so I can't really comment until I've played this year.
Certainly I would say to get a lens with greater length. I used a friends 70-200mm F2 at Le Mans and loved the speed of the lens but couldn't afford to upgrade
, but rather than go for a teleconverter and an F2 70-200mm lens I'm going for a longer lens that's versatile for wandering around a circuit looking for opportunities.
I'd agree with trying to take the shots with as slow a shutter speed as you can get away with to get the impression of speed. Ideally if you can play a little in PS cropping them it really can make a difference . ..
Take your camera to every motorsport event you go to from trackday to racing and use it. I do go to far too much motor sport and didn't get the camera out at many events this year, which I regret now, so the mission this year is to get a last one shot I'm really happy with at every event I go to . . . .
C&C welcome . ..
Don't forget the incidental shot's as well . . . I honestly didn't take this stood in front of the car heading towards me at speed !
All of these were taken with 450D & 70-200mm F4 Canon L series. I've practiced using all sorts of shutter speeds, apertures to look at the effects on depth of field and the effects it has on blurring, b&w, all sorts . .. I also vary which focus point I use and whether it's set for one shot, or it tracks with the panning shot which mainly I use.
I've took 1000's of shots last year and all of these below are some of the better ones. From all of the shots I took I only have a handful that I'm really happy with.
All of these were taken handheld, no monopod. I'm buying a 100-400mm Canon L before the race season starts for me and a monopod to have a go with due to the longer lens, so I can't really comment until I've played this year.
Certainly I would say to get a lens with greater length. I used a friends 70-200mm F2 at Le Mans and loved the speed of the lens but couldn't afford to upgrade
, but rather than go for a teleconverter and an F2 70-200mm lens I'm going for a longer lens that's versatile for wandering around a circuit looking for opportunities.I'd agree with trying to take the shots with as slow a shutter speed as you can get away with to get the impression of speed. Ideally if you can play a little in PS cropping them it really can make a difference . ..
Take your camera to every motorsport event you go to from trackday to racing and use it. I do go to far too much motor sport and didn't get the camera out at many events this year, which I regret now, so the mission this year is to get a last one shot I'm really happy with at every event I go to . . . .
C&C welcome . ..
Don't forget the incidental shot's as well . . . I honestly didn't take this stood in front of the car heading towards me at speed !
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