Never shot bikes before so more a question rather than critique, brilliant panning and pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm, is this due to the depth of field with f4.5 or was his arm dropping introducing a second plane of movement. Brilliant shot with stunning detail and spot on exposure. Gez

Never shot bikes before so more a question rather than critique, brilliant panning and pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm, is this due to the depth of field with f4.5 or was his arm dropping introducing a second plane of movement.

Brilliant shot with stunning detail and spot on exposure.

Gez

I'm not sure to be honest. Certainly as it's a constant left turn, and the rider is dropping toward the camera that could be possible. I try various different settings, f4.5 is a little wider than normal for me, maybe if i'd stuck to 5.6 Quite pleased with it though Thanks for the comment

I'm not sure to be honest. Certainly as it's a constant left turn, and the rider is dropping toward the camera that could be possible.

I try various different settings, f4.5 is a little wider than normal for me, maybe if i'd stuck to 5.6

Quite pleased with it though

Thanks for the comment

[quote]pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,[/quote] The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus!

Quote:pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,

The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus!

Quite pleased lol, I'd be well pleased with this one.

Quite pleased lol, I'd be well pleased with this one.

[quote]Quote:pin sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus![/quote] 500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting. [quote]Quite pleased lol, I'd be well pleased with this one.[/quote] Thank you :) As another writer says later, the b/g is an issue, but unavoidable.

Quote:Quotein sharp focus, except for the writing on the riders left arm,The way these guys throw their machines around corners, you're lucky to get any of it in focus!


500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting.


Quote:Quite pleased lol, I'd be well pleased with this one.


Thank you As another writer says later, the b/g is an issue, but unavoidable.

[quote]I have some mixed feelings here. i like the composition and framing but i feel the top blue area of the background is a bit contrasty and distracting . the bottom dirt area is lovely. i wonder if different panning options would cause much longer streaks. the offset against that is i really like the movement in the front wheel spokes, it is fantastic. exposure is great and so is sharpness. i love the main subject, cant seem to get on with the totally unavoidable background. regards Phil[/quote] What you have in the b/g are white plywood kickboards, topped off with a greeny blue nylon mesh. Last year the mesh was a neutral creamy colour, but they changed it in the close season. It's dreadful looking, but shooting from the inside there is no way to avoid getting it in the frame. I have and do try different panning options, sometimes going down as low as 1/80 or 1/100 s That makes it a much more hit and miss affair but I still get occasional good shots. I could desaturate or do something with the colour of the fence, however my shots are for several audiences many of whom are speedway fans and would wonder what had happened to the fence if I changed the colour :) Maybe for competition use it would be worth considering

Quote:I have some mixed feelings here.
i like the composition and framing but i feel the top blue area of the background is a bit contrasty and distracting . the bottom dirt area is lovely. i wonder if different panning options would cause much longer streaks.

the offset against that is i really like the movement in the front wheel spokes, it is fantastic. exposure is great and so is sharpness.

i love the main subject, cant seem to get on with the totally unavoidable background.
regards
Phil


What you have in the b/g are white plywood kickboards, topped off with a greeny blue nylon mesh. Last year the mesh was a neutral creamy colour, but they changed it in the close season. It's dreadful looking, but shooting from the inside there is no way to avoid getting it in the frame. I have and do try different panning options, sometimes going down as low as 1/80 or 1/100 s That makes it a much more hit and miss affair but I still get occasional good shots. I could desaturate or do something with the colour of the fence, however my shots are for several audiences many of whom are speedway fans and would wonder what had happened to the fence if I changed the colour Maybe for competition use it would be worth considering

[quote]I'm in awe of the technical accomplishment here and I'm sure you've had and will have good critique regarding that. I'll just make two wee suggestions re the composition. First, I think the front wheel's just a tiny bit too close to the edge of the frame..and second, the whole subject sits centrally in the frame, which usually suggests passiveness rather than the high -action stuff here. Just cropping some from the right snd havong more in front than behind I think would make a big difference Stephen[/quote] Thank you Stephen. I was probably about 10 feet from the rider when I took the shot, and the lens was at 70mm, so it was a frame filling experience. That limits the amount of cropping I can do. In this case there isn't a dirt trail, but I often leave some space behind to show that. I also tried to get the head/upper torso on a third (or near to it) while I accept the front wheel is very central. Without cloning I couldn't add much space to the left of the frame for the bike to run into. I'm not a fan of retouching these shots, so tend to go with what I have. I'll try a wee crop and upload it as another variant. Thanks to all who have commented

Quote:I'm in awe of the technical accomplishment here and I'm sure you've had and will have good critique regarding that. I'll just make two wee suggestions re the composition. First, I think the front wheel's just a tiny bit too close to the edge of the frame..and second, the whole subject sits centrally in the frame, which usually suggests passiveness rather than the high -action stuff here. Just cropping some from the right snd havong more in front than behind I think would make a big difference

Stephen


Thank you Stephen. I was probably about 10 feet from the rider when I took the shot, and the lens was at 70mm, so it was a frame filling experience. That limits the amount of cropping I can do. In this case there isn't a dirt trail, but I often leave some space behind to show that. I also tried to get the head/upper torso on a third (or near to it) while I accept the front wheel is very central. Without cloning I couldn't add much space to the left of the frame for the bike to run into. I'm not a fan of retouching these shots, so tend to go with what I have. I'll try a wee crop and upload it as another variant.

Thanks to all who have commented

Dave have a look back at gallery for various different views from inside and outside the track. The track is an oval so options are limited. Thanks for your kind comment

Dave have a look back at gallery for various different views from inside and outside the track. The track is an oval so options are limited. Thanks for your kind comment

Thanks, your mod is similar to my v2. I avoid cloning in areas in sports shotS, so probably wouldn't consider doing that myself :) I stayed in last night, there was speedway on sky sports lol

Thanks, your mod is similar to my v2. I avoid cloning in areas in sports shotS, so probably wouldn't consider doing that myself

I stayed in last night, there was speedway on sky sports lol

[quote]500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting.[/quote] Hi Al! I was watching speedway when they all wore black leathers, Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs were the men to beat and they all rode upright JAWAs with their left foot stuck out [i]in front [/i]of them! If you want to see bikes running on [i]real[/i] looney brew (nitro) try drag racing! Cheers, Bren.

Quote:500cc single cylinder engines, 1 gear, no brakes and the bikes run on booze (methanol) running on dirt. If you've never tried speedway, try and get along to a local meeting.

Hi Al!
I was watching speedway when they all wore black leathers, Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs were the men to beat and they all rode upright JAWAs with their left foot stuck out in front of them!
If you want to see bikes running on real looney brew (nitro) try drag racing!
Cheers,
Bren.

I saw Mauger race in 1975. Both he and Briggo have been at Ashfield this year visiting

I saw Mauger race in 1975. Both he and Briggo have been at Ashfield this year visiting

Very well done, but I do prefer the tight crop of V" - a lot of impact - not literally I hope! Paul

Very well done, but I do prefer the tight crop of V" - a lot of impact - not literally I hope!

Paul

Thanks, I have one ready for tomorrow of the same rider with a head on viewpoint.

Thanks, I have one ready for tomorrow of the same rider with a head on viewpoint.