DS 56 Panning a ballerina

lkbart

Here's my attempts at panning - have never done anything like this before & thought if I used a merry-go-round that it would be easy. Ha! Maybe easier, but def NOT easy!
Any of these okay? C&C please!
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

rsquared

Awesome idea!! I love how #5 came out. I love the look of #1 too, except for the slide in the background.

silvereye

#3 is amazing... great motion, great crop and wonderful fresh subject... well done

kdotaylor

ooh, I really like #3...very well done, indeed. I love the purple and green, the expression on her face, and that she's sitting on the merry-go-round rather than just posing on it. The background blur is just the right amount on this one.

lkbart

Thank you Kate & Christian - I like #3 too - I think it's sharper than the others (except maybe #1). I think I need to straighten it though.

Thanks to you too Rob - I like the illusion of flying in #5 too, just wasn't sure if the lines from the fence & swingset added too or took away from the shot. & I've recropped #1 - I totally agree about the slide, but I like her pose & the way she's looking right at the camera. But is the recrop too narrow?

silvereye

Exactly my issue with #1... great crop...

rsquared

I noticed the fence in #5, but the other line (is that the swingset?) didn't jump out at me at first. I think they don't really take much away because they're in the same direction as the motion. The way the swingset matches up to the edge of the skirt almost turns it into some sort of trail she's leaving behind...

The crop on #1 is definitely an improvement, but you might be right on it being too narrow. My eyes are wanting to see more space on the other side now.

#3 has also grown on me now that I take a second look. I'm realizing I was drawn to the two photos with the most dynamic legs to start with. I just spent part of my afternoon photographing dancers also, and I think my brain was still looking for those dramatic poses.

AndMan

Nice shots with some great background blur.
Hate to nitpick but I'm not sure these necessarily meet the definition of panning since it appears that the camera was in the centre of the merry-go-round and therefore the camera and the subject are totally static in relation to each other and the appearance of movement is created by the merry-go-round turning about the axis on which the camera is placed. Just my .02

lkbart

Thanks for the feedback Peter. I was on the opposite side of the merry-go-round (it's small), most of the time squatting on the edge & sometimes falling off! #1 should qualify whether the others do or not. I was not on the merry-go-round when I took it - you can tell cuz the movement lines are way shorter - it was really hard to push the merry-go-round (dancer couldn't do it) and get the camera back up to get the shot. It's probably more in focus only cuz she didn't move as far as in the other shots. I really don't know if these will qualify. I hope they do - who makes that determination so I can ask? I'd prefer not to enter a photo that will be disqualified.

Regardless, it was National Dance Day, and it was a fun thing for us to do to celebrate it!

I'm realizing I was drawn to the two photos with the most dynamic legs to start with. I just spent part of my afternoon photographing dancers also, and I think my brain was still looking for those dramatic poses.

Gotta love the dance shots - they're my fav!

michswiss

The poses in 2, 3 and 5 are the nicest for me. But if you have the chance, a reshoot would be nice with her in standard B&W leotards and tutu. I'd also loosen the crop so she's less centered and there's more motion in the background. Really cool concept.

dnie

lkbart wrote: »

I really don't know if these will qualify. I hope they do - who makes that determination so I can ask? I'd prefer not to enter a photo that will be disqualified.

I wondered the same thing as Peter. Panning is usually considered moving the camera to keep up with the movement. While it might not be something that would get disqualified, the real question is will the judges consider it panning?
The images are great. I especially like #3's background and the expression on her face looks dreamy and serene.

HoofClix

lkbart wrote: »

Thanks for the clarification - & I completely understand about the judges & agree about the chance taken. But if we all looked at everything in the same way, it would all get BORING, so we should be thankful for the wide range of opinions & tastes - even those that contradict our own!

(I moved this over from the other thread..)
I agree with Sean and say Bravo to your creativity, but I saw your images and personally, were I a judge in this round, I would be looking at images that fit the definition of "panning" in making my decision, looking for the many ways people see things within the limits of the theme.. That said, I would have to put yours aside. Panning in this case would be a test of hand-held camera skills, one in which the subject moves and you would be trying to keep up with it. I just don't think you display that skill here. Your picture won't be eliminated because the exif is in-date, but the judges are likely to be looking for images that display the skill of panning more than this.

lkbart

Thanks michswiss - not sure if a reshoot is in the cards - busy week ahead. Unless we could get a real tutu (which would be really cool - the one there is a practice tutu), I'd be concerned that the stereotypical ballet ensemble would lack pizzazz. And my daughter is kinda known in her dance circle for her wild tights (& these are mild compared to some she has)!

And thanks Donna (dnie) - I've thought if I use #3 that serenity might be in the name somewhere!

Thanks for your input Mark (Hoofclix) & thanks for the link to my response to the clarification by the mod. Your response together with others here will likely determine which shot I use for the challenge. I'm adding a few more shots here where I was on the ground & not on the merry-go-round when shooting. I believe that these (and #1 above) meet the criteria for your definition of panning - hand holding the camera & following the moving subject. Would you still put them aside if you were judging? Or are any of these okay?

6.

7.

8.

liflander

I understand the gripes about panning. This is kind of like standing still and letting car headlights paint the frame. However, I like these shots a lot (#3 and #5) because they are a creative take on the merry-go-round panning idea. The fact that she looks like she doing a ballet move while standing still is really cool.
So to me they are different and creative, and therefore strong entries.

iCandi

VERY neat! I love this idea, and her tights are beautiful

lkbart

liflander - Thanks for your comment - & your "wag more. bark less." is a great philosophy!
iCandi - Thanks for your comment also - & cool name!

Some of the other comments here have left me confused as to how to proceed in this round. Being relatively new to photography & to these challenges, I only had a vague idea of what panning was and thought the merry-go-round would be a good place to get my feet wet. I missed the part that said I was supposed to display a hand held skill; I just read that the photo should have"... a foreground subject in action appearing still ... while the background is streaked ...." I was further confused when I googled "panning photography" and one of the first links was to an article that stated "there are no rules in panning", another article mentioned using a merry-go-round and several places recommend using a tripod or monopod. And maybe I’m wrong - & I’m not trying to diss anyone, but my impression has been that these contests are meant for people of all skill (& equipment) levels to challenge themselves and not a competition for professional photographers to showcase their expert skills.

So my bottom line is that for my skill level, I feel I did a decent job, I had a great time (and so did my daughter), I learned several things, and I am very happy with the photos, and I’m still going to be happy with my photo entry whether it makes the finals or not. Thanks for all the comments & suggestions - from everyone.

lkbart

So now my question is: Do I need to crop this tighter to cut out the metal pole in the lower right hand of the photo? Other comments regarding the processing of this photo?

WhatSheSaw

Can you post this and the original crop (#3) side by side? It will be easier for me to compare than scrolling.

BTW, I really like these. They are excellent examples of panning and an unusual subject.

Seefutlung

#5 seems to be the best ... I'd clone out the clutter of the pipes and try a look at B&W (just to see of the colors add any unnecessary distractions).

Gary

PS- Great Idea!

lkbart

Thanks for the input - Whatshesaw & Gary - Here's #5 in an almost b/w:

I'm not sure if I like this any better. I'm not good enough with PS Elements to clone out the bars nicely - wish I could! This one does seem to minimize the clutter in the back though.
And here's a side by side of #3 (I hope!):
Crop A (wider): Crop B (no blue on the bottom):

WhatSheSaw

Decisions, decisions!

I think I like Crop B better. I like her wistful look in #3.

I like the color better in #5.

Both #3 and #5 are excellent.