F1 photography tips - photos promised!

cokebottles · 23 Feb 2010 at 00:38

Hey guys.

I'm looking for some advice from those of you that shoot motorsports - and specifically something as quick as F1. I had a go in the summer of 08 with my 450D and a rented 300m F4 L and 1.4x TC at Silverstone and got some shots I was happy with. My keeper rate was relatively low, maybe 10%. Never having used such a long focal length, or shot motorsport before - the panning technique was tricky so I found I was upping my shutter speed to 1/1000 or higher to get sharp pictures. This consequently robbed the photos of any look of speed.

I'm heading out to Barcelona on Wed to catch the final F1 tests before the season starts. Weather permitting this should give me a couple of days of shooting, with my 450d again but this time Ive got a 100-400mm L with me.

The advice Im looking for specifically relates to how I can get some "special" photos. Focusing was a bit of an issue last time. I tried to stick to the centre point with AI SERVO but sometimes this didnt allow correct framing and the focus would miss.

Any advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated - I certainly plan to share my results when Im back next week!

Namistai · 23 Feb 2010 at 13:22

I'm no expert, but I would firstly suggest using a monopod and practicing the panning technique with that. Secondly, perhaps try changing between AI Servo and AI Focus to see which you find best. you could also try using different AF points, but I would specify which one you want to use (i.e. don't rely on the camera to automatically choose - you could be focused on anything by the time you shoot otherwise!).

Lucky git, enjoy!!

Get me some nice snaps of the McLaren duo in action for my wallpaper, 1080p please

3dcandy · 23 Feb 2010 at 18:38

Just Jenson for me, this year is going to be hard, I'm a Jenson fan, but don't care for Mclaren....or Ferrari. On my last few motorsport shoots, I used AI Servo and a monopod and got some fairly decent results. You do need to practise panning though, it is an art and once mastered you can play with shutter speeds etc. I found I could use Tv and set a shutter speed of say 1/125 and then go from there and tweak a bit, however your mileage may vary!

cokebottles · 23 Feb 2010 at 20:18

Thanks guys, will try and get some wallpapers! I should be going to the Thur and Fri sessions, which according to the info posted online so far will mean I get to shoot both Mclaren drivers and both Mercedes drivers as well as Alonso on both days.

I dont have a monopod, but ill do my best. Having a zoom lens instead of a prime this time allows me to pull out a bit to shorter focal lengths which should be more forgiving with the panning.

I will probably start on Tv at 1/1000 and slow down the shutter speed a stop at a time as I improve - while along the day experimenting with the focus. I might even try some manual focusing. I think even 1/500 gives you blurred tyre logos with F1 - but I will try even lower if possible. I will also try and put my netbook in my back with me so I can review my shots at the circuit to make sure theyre sharp!

I really hope I come back with some worthwhile shots!

john_s · 23 Feb 2010 at 23:24

I wouldn't bother about not having a monopod.

Personally, I hate shooting with a big stick hanging off the bottom of my lens; I find it much easier to pan without.

Have a good trip!

cokebottles · 28 Feb 2010 at 13:54

Hey guys, here's a quick update:

Had a successful couple of days shooting in Barcelona. Flight landed 11pm yday and I've just been to work... I think I have a busy week ahead so it might be a few days before I have a set of lovely processed F1 pics. Here's one to whet your appetite (it's an early candidate for a print to go on my wall!)

Westyfield2 · 28 Feb 2010 at 14:08

cokebottles said:
Hey guys, here's a quick update:

Had a successful couple of days shooting in Barcelona. Flight landed 11pm yday and I've just been to work... I think I have a busy week ahead so it might be a few days before I have a set of lovely processed F1 pics. Here's one to whet your appetite (it's an early candidate for a print to go on my wall!)

[IMG ]http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/403/img7443t.jpg[/IMG]

That's a cracking shot! Shame that the wing's slightly cropped, but I doubt the car was standing still!

I'm gonna try and get a load more motorsport photography done this year..

^^Gord^^ · 28 Feb 2010 at 14:24

Don't use the teleconverter, it will cost you 50% to 67% of your AF speed.

cokebottles · 28 Feb 2010 at 17:09

Westyfield2 said:
That's a cracking shot! Shame that the wing's slightly cropped, but I doubt the car was standing still!

I'm gonna try and get a load more motorsport photography done this year..

That was taken on the pit straight, standing on the upper tier of the grandstand, zoomed all the way out to 100mm, and even that was too long! The cropped wing is really bugging me...

^^Gord^^ said:
Don't use the teleconverter, it will cost you 50% to 67% of your AF speed.

I had ok experience with the 1.4x TC and the 300 F4L in the past. This time I used a 100-400mm L and a 450D manual focusing for the majority of my shots.

More coming as soon as I can guys!

sillyswede · 28 Feb 2010 at 19:58

That's a great shot cokebottles! It's looking rather shiny...

Race in two weeks, whoop whoop!

Namistai · 1 Mar 2010 at 12:35

That is a great shot!

Good work - I can't wait to see the rest when they're done!

cokebottles · 30 Mar 2010 at 13:54

Ok, finally processed them all and put them in two Picasa albums.

F1 Testing Barcelona 25/02/2010
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/11595...authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3gwKTT6LT3yQE&feat=directlink

F1 Testing Barcelona 26/02/2010
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/11595...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJTS0av4ufLxWw&feat=directlink

alex24 · 30 Mar 2010 at 13:59

Some good pics of hamilton, alonso and de la rosa, they seem to be more in focus that a lot of the others. I also like the pic of Trulli, pretty much sums up his season so far!

Which ones are your faves? Post them in the thread!

cokebottles · 30 Mar 2010 at 14:18

Here are my picks;

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

There's loads more in the gallery links posted above: please check them out and let me know what you think.

p0ss3s3d · 30 Mar 2010 at 16:48

Shots, you've picked out, like 3, 6 and 7. Three is a little underexposed/need a little lift in the shadows, 6 and 7 are nice but I'd like to see a but more motion.

On the other shots, they are nice, try to even out the processing, some are about right and the others have way too much contrast, and dont forget to sharpen. Also, the crops are a bit tight. But, great go at shooting some really quick machines!!

Namistai · 30 Mar 2010 at 19:18

Liking them! Looks like you had some cracking weather and light

Out of interest, does anyone know what the black things sticking up from the air intake on the Macca's, Renault and Ferrari are? I assume some sort of additional telemetry system, but I can't think what it would be for!

startrek2 · 30 Mar 2010 at 19:26

^^Gord^^ said:
Don't use the teleconverter, it will cost you 50% to 67% of your AF speed.

that i disagree with.....

i will add ive never used the *00d versions ie 300/400/450d etc but even a 30d or 40d looses a little but not nearly that much and pretty much none on the 1d series.

a 300f4 and 1.4x are great and AF speed is still VERY fast.

p0ss3s3d · 30 Mar 2010 at 21:03

startrek2 said:
that i disagree with.....

i will add ive never used the *00d versions ie 300/400/450d etc but even a 30d or 40d looses a little but not nearly that much and pretty much none on the 1d series.

a 300f4 and 1.4x are great and AF speed is still VERY fast.

Well, thats sort of true. If your using CANON teleconverters the AF (MFD-Infinity) will be reduced (~50% on 1.4x about 67% on 2x). This is done by canon to ensure the image is focussed perfectly. Kenko and Sigma TC's won't change this on purpose but may inadvertanley happen.

However you are indeed right, in practice a TC won't slow the lens down. So long as the subject isn't too fast (relative to the distance from subject) the lens will easily keep up - most complaints about TC speed are from people who don't nudge the AF back on track when tracking is lost, they then complain because the lens searches infinity to the minimum focussing range. If you feel that grip slip pull the lens back ASAP. Also if your using 1 series cameras turn the AF sensitivity to 'slowest/slow' that doesn't affect AF speed but the change in the pick-up. i.e the camera will refocus 8 times per second in faster, 4 in standard and about twice in slow. This is more forgiving for the user, the focus will probably not be lost and intervention not necessary.

So because a 1 series (or 7D) will maintain focus it appears although AF has not slowed. So long as a grip is there the speed is there too. The more the lens shakes in/out of focus the more you notice the focussing slowdown. On XXD bodies this probably won't be too much of a problem and even on an XXXD it's probably not too bad.

The main reason to avoid a TC is the loss of light and the IQ. IMO the IQ with a 1.4x is fine wide-open on primes and sharp zooms. 2x okay on good primes, stop down a stop or two on less sharp primes and sharp zooms.

cokebottles · 30 Mar 2010 at 21:37

Yea, um. I used a 1.4x TC in the past on a 300mm f4 L and AF was fine on my 450D. Im sure that's because the AF on my 450D is crap in the first place. I think 90% of my F1 shots from these albums were done manually focused with the 450D and 100-400mm L. Much more consistent.

p0ss3s3d · 30 Mar 2010 at 21:47

450D AF isn't that bad IMO. The centre point is fine, it's only the surrounding points that seem to slow down a teeeeny bit. Actually I'd say the 450D has a pretty good auto-focus, it's just the problem of leaping out of focus if the system gets confused.

It will simply get more confused than a 7D/1D.

Once you master pulling the focus back-in (takes practice- I kept pulling it too slowly, you need to be assertive and pull it quickly into the right area and it's preferable to overshoot rather than undershoot). Crikey I'm rambling here...