Really could use some advice here. My first time shooting motocross and I am about as unhappy with my shots as it gets. This one was shot 88MM F8 1/500 ISO200 and has so many things going wrong with it I do not know where to start too correct.

And this is one of the better shots!!

Maybe you could indicate what YOU don't like about it.
Here's my take (for what THAT's worth!!!):
1) Shutter speed has frozen the flying dirt but in this case may be too fast to give a sense of motion in the wheels or rider. This looks like a relatively slow corner, so maybe 1/250th might be a better starting point?
2) lighting. From your POV half the rider will be in full sun and the other half will be in full shadow - hard to capture both due to wide dynamic range
3) Lot of motor sports images look more dynamic from a lower vantage point

If it were me, I would fix 1, 2 and 3 by moving my position more to the LEFT (if that is possible) so that the rider was more 3/4 or side on. I would get lower and I would progressively lower my shutter speed. I would also get a few panning shots as the riders came around that corner (and from my new position). I would start panning at say 1/125th and work my way down to say 1/60th.
If I couldn't change my position, I would wait a bit longer to have the riders going past me so there was a lot less of them in shadow.

4) f8 is not giving you enough separation of rider from background - but you may be limited there because it looks like a bright day
5) image looks like it needs straightening - posts look like they are all leaning left?
6) crop is too loose for me. I understand the context of entering and exiting the corner - so right of rider is fine. But too much "dead"/negative space on the right that adds nothing.
7) hopefully you also have so shots with riders "competing" ie more than one rider battling for position.

Originally Posted by AceCo55 Maybe you could indicate what YOU don't like about it. Here's my take (for what THAT's worth!!!): 1) Shutter speed has frozen the flying dirt but in this case may be too fast to give a sense of motion in the wheels or rider. This looks like a relatively slow corner, so maybe 1/250th might be a better starting point? 2) lighting. From your POV half the rider will be in full sun and the other half will be in full shadow - hard to capture both due to wide dynamic range 3) Lot of motor sports images look more dynamic from a lower vantage point If it were me, I would fix 1, 2 and 3 by moving my position more to the LEFT (if that is possible) so that the rider was more 3/4 or side on. I would get lower and I would progressively lower my shutter speed. I would also get a few panning shots as the riders came around that corner (and from my new position). I would start panning at say 1/125th and work my way down to say 1/60th. If I couldn't change my position, I would wait a bit longer to have the riders going past me so there was a lot less of them in shadow. 4) f8 is not giving you enough separation of rider from background - but you may be limited there because it looks like a bright day 5) image looks like it needs straightening - posts look like they are all leaning left? 6) crop is too loose for me. I understand the context of entering and exiting the corner - so right of rider is fine. But too much "dead"/negative space on the right that adds nothing. 7) hopefully you also have so shots with riders "competing" ie more than one rider battling for position.

Great commetns and sound advice. Thanks very much

I shoot a lot of action sports and a ton of MX! (I ride and race)
I think the biggest thing is using a slower shutter speed with some DOF. This has been mentioned but keep shooting and look at tons of photos from Transworld MX and RacerX. This really helped me. I threw in a image of mine to help.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adigita...7630021077533/

Edit: I just added a link to my set instead.

Originally Posted by agentcrf250 I shoot a lot of action sports and a ton of MX! (I ride and race) I think the biggest thing is using a slower shutter speed with some DOF. This has been mentioned but keep shooting and look at tons of photos from Transworld MX and RacerX. This really helped me. I threw in a image of mine to help. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adigita...7630021077533/ Edit: I just added a link to my set instead.

Thank you very much for the comment. I expect to be out at another event in the next few weeks and will put to use all the suggestions I recieved.

Again, thanks everyone, I really appreciate this site.

Jack

I agree with the comments about shutter speed. The image could also use a tighter composition as well as some editing to bring out the eyes (or consider fill flash).

There are soo many things that could be better here.

Rider on the right side. Left side would be better for your brain because he is riding/ turning across the picture.

Rider out of focus and BG in focus. Use a wider aperture. I like F4 and less for moto. You need to separate the rider from the background not make them part of it.

I disagree about the shutter speed thing. Yes it can imply motion or speed to have some wheel blur. But so does some nice roost. You really do not have either here. I like faster shutter speeds that capture great roost and produce very sharp pictures. Panning can produce some fantastic images to show speed. It is fun to practice and try out. Every once in a while you will get a killer shot. But pick up an issue of Racer X or Transworld MX. Most pics will show a razor sharp bike and rider and most will show no wheel spin at all. You get the impression of speed from roost. Or you get the awesome jump shot that you see eyeballs.

You were standing. Get on your knees. The difference it makes in perspective is amazing.

This corner sucks. Find one where guys are on the throttle hard. This equals roost and great pictures.

Even in broad daylight at noon, use a flash. Use high speed sync to keep your shutter speed out of the dirt and your aperture wide. That little splash of light goes far. It lights up under the helmet and gives little highlights on the bike. And again, provides more separation from the BG.

Your color seems a bit off. A bit too yellow green. Color is important.

Great job trying this and posting looking for help. Get out and practice it more. MX is not as easy as it would seem on the surface. You will get better the more you do it.

Originally Posted by ChesterJack Really could use some advice here. My first time shooting motocross and I am about as unhappy with my shots as it gets. This one was shot 88MM F8 1/500 ISO200 and has so many things going wrong with it I do not know where to start too correct. And this is one of the better shots!!

I'm using a D700 which defaults to ISO 200 and it took me 2 years to realize to turn down the ISO when shooting in strong sun.

lot of good advice here. shoot shoot and shoot some more. think like a rider. wait for the big moment. evaluate riders and realize some will never provide a "big" moment but in their own way they'll do ok.

a ho hum jump is a big jump for some and a big jump for some ain't going to happen for others.





keep shooting and the results will improve.