I have been trying to take panning photos for the past couple of days and they never come out right. Is anyone able to share any tips to take great panning photos? Specifically, I was trying to catch kids and adults running. Thanks in advance.
@rstrum hi Rachel.
Are you using manual or shutter priority modes on your camera?
Panning depends on your shutter speed.
So, try a lot of different settings.
I would use in your case a high aperture value, to guarantee focus (let's say f8).
And then use something around 1/10 and 1/40. I guess 1/20 will be fine.
Don't press the shutter then move the camera or your photo may come out too shaken.
Be careful to press the shutter in the midst of your arm movement.
Start following the flow and THEN shoot it.
You will probably have to try a lot to get it right.
It's not easy.
One of my last photos was a panning of people dancing:
The biggest help to me when taking car races is to pick-up the car in the center of the lens far ahead of pressing the shutter button and to keep the car in the center of the lens after releasing the shutter. So, the action of your head and shoulders includes much more motion than what your shutter-open does.
I have major problems with this as well, so will be taking all of this advice. the results are worth the effort though as @gabrielklee 's photo demonstrates. amazing!
I have never gotten a panning shot right either, but I've always pressed the shutter and THEN followed the subject. All your advice makes much more sense :)
I love doing the panning shot! Here are two examples with kids and the stats:
This one I took at f22, ISO 100, 70mm and shutter speed 1/25s. The key is a slow shutterspeed and while the subject is passing you, try to focus on your subject and shoot away. I have noticed my best success is to have my camera set on high speed continuous, so I can just click away and usually one or two shots turn out.
This one was taken at f18, ISO 100, 106mm, and shutter speed of 1/30s.
PS..After I get my subject and quickly focus on it .I move the camera with the subject sweeping to the side as the subject passes. It take some practice and cars are always great to practice on. I did a taxi in Denver for my first try.
... another thing to try is continuous servo autofocus... it's for tracking moving objects, and works pretty amazingly in modern cameras. check your camera manual, and remember to switch it back afterwards, as it can cause confusion later when pedestrians walk between you and your subject, and the camera changes its mind about what to focus on.
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Are you using manual or shutter priority modes on your camera?
Panning depends on your shutter speed.
So, try a lot of different settings.
I would use in your case a high aperture value, to guarantee focus (let's say f8).
And then use something around 1/10 and 1/40. I guess 1/20 will be fine.
Don't press the shutter then move the camera or your photo may come out too shaken.
Be careful to press the shutter in the midst of your arm movement.
Start following the flow and THEN shoot it.
You will probably have to try a lot to get it right.
It's not easy.
One of my last photos was a panning of people dancing:
This one I took at f22, ISO 100, 70mm and shutter speed 1/25s. The key is a slow shutterspeed and while the subject is passing you, try to focus on your subject and shoot away. I have noticed my best success is to have my camera set on high speed continuous, so I can just click away and usually one or two shots turn out.
This one was taken at f18, ISO 100, 106mm, and shutter speed of 1/30s.
Good luck and I hope it works out for you!
@gabrielklee @dlaxton @bb @monkeykid @exposure4u @exposure4u @cameronknowlton
I used BBF on al-servo and followed him and snapped.