Could I have some tips on panning please?

[NorthstaNder]

Hi,

I'm going up to Newmarket in a few days to get some early morning shots of the horses on their morning gallops and I plan to have my first try at panning, soooo I'm after a few tips from the experts (that's you lot!)

I have a monopod so I'm sorted in that area (although some may say I won't need it).

But what I'm really after are a good starting point for camera settings. I know Shutter priority would be best for panning, but what speed as I'm after those nice blurred backgrounds.

Camera is Fuji S6500fd so it has most things I may need like high speed shooting, continuous shooting etc etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Chris_83]

The thing with panning is practice. I'd start with a shutter speed of 1/320 then once your comfortable move it to 1/250 then maybe 1/160. At least thats what I do with motor sports.

As for technique get the subject in view, half press the shutter and keep it pressed. Pan with the subject and press the shutter fully when you want the shot and continue panning with the subject.

 

[robertgilbert86]

If it's morning you might need a longer shutter just to get enough light in.
I find shutter speeds of <1/100 are required for obvious 'panning'. A 1/320th will freeze the action in most situations so start at 1/125.

You'll probably want a 'continuous focus' setting turned on too.

 

[wez130]

it's going to be different panning horses as to panning cars as the whole body moves in different ways unlike a car where only the wheels move on a panning shot so i think you will need a faster shutter speed to maybe hint at a tiny bit of movement in the legs but hopefully keeping the head still

 

[robertgilbert86]

Nope, not in my experience. http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertgilbert86/collections/72157604581055498/

 

[NorthstaNder]

thanks guys for the replies...

so it's looking like a faster shutter speed would be better so that i freeze the action, or just get a hint of movement?

i'm guessing blurry legs would look a bit rubbish!

 

[V-Spec]

In my experience of panning a lot of high speed drag racing cars, focal length is quite a big consideration when using lower shutter speeds as everything is exagerated so much.
I generally use 1/125th with a 300mm lens on a nice stiff gitzo monopod, rest my hands on the top of the lens in the middle to reduce vibration (not on the end) similar to Moose Peterson's long lens technique.
I'd say that with shorter focal lengths, say under 200mm if the lens is pretty light you may get better results hand holding, but it depends on your technique.
I've also done quite a bit of Equine photography for friends horses and a few big events, panning horses with low shutter speeds is vastly more difficult than cars for the simple reason that they move up and down all over the place, but its good to experiment and see what kind of shots you can get I guess.

 

[robertgilbert86]

thanks guys for the replies...

so it's looking like a faster shutter speed would be better so that i freeze the action, or just get a hint of movement?

i'm guessing blurry legs would look a bit rubbish!

It depends if you want to freeze the action or not.

The legs won't be too blurry. Normally in panning shots, the photographer wants a blurred background to suggest/illustrate the subject is moving and not static.

If you're taking photos of moving horses you may want to show they're moving, but on the other hand you may want to freeze the action to show the body structure of a moving horse in sharp detail. Just experiment with whatever makes a photo you like.