Panning

pantherlax

I went to the wrestling practice at my hs today, and I tried to do some panning shots as they conditioned. I just tried to follow the subject as the shutter was opened, using a tripod, but it came out as the equivalent of hand blur.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12023030@N06/2143844753/

Someone please tell me the proper techniques of panning and how long the shutter should be open for.

Thanks.

aj986s

Looks to be too long an exposure to me. Will vary with subject matter. Cars on a racetrack pan well at about 1/100th. Slower is possible, but becomes harder to keep car in focus. For people action, I think 1/30th or so is a good starting point. Slower is possible, but keep in mind that if the subject is moving a lot on other planes, the pan will include that blur. A race car works well because the entire car is moving as a single unit. A runner will have flailing arms/legs/etc. which will blur in the process. Another approach might be to pan as you originally did, but use a flash burst during the exposure to freeze at a single point.

pantherlax

Thanks. And also, its easiest when the subject is going laterally, rather than diagonally or something? And yea i guess i just gotta use a faster shutter, cause I tried to use about 1.5 or so seconds...thanks for clearing that up.

pathfinder

1.5 seconds is waaaaa...aaaay too slow for panning, except MAYBE for a train on rails or a car on a smooth track. Think 1/15th or faster for people.

2nd curtain flash can help in these kinds of shots. A burst of light just before the shutter slams closed.

kelsow

Also remember to follow through, like a golf swing.
Don't stop abruptly after you release the shutter.

Lets see what you end up with.

pantherlax

Thanks guys, I'm going to make my brother run around once he comes home so i can get him lol. And I'll be sure to post. And happy almost New Years!