Tips on Rolling Shots/Moving People

[hoanger]

I've been trying to get rolling shots of cars and good pics of moving people for a long time and it's harder than it looks.

I've read where you move the camera with the same speed as the car.. and I've tried it, but to no avail. I want the background to blur, but the car/person in focus.

A good example is a bride walking down the aisle and trying to get her in focus whilst everyone is blurred.

Any tips?

[FG2uner]

its tricky, but yes you have the right technique... you have to move the camera with the moving object and take the shot. you need to make sure you hold the object in the center of the cam for a sec or two before you take the pic and hold the snap button down halfway so it can focus before you snap the pic... i hope this helps, im no professional but this is what i do when i used to go to nascar races when the cars are going 185mph+ and it works, but its hit or miss....


Edit: oh, and the object needs to be moving past you to get the blurr in the backround... if its just along side you and a little behind for example, and its just staying there, the backround more than likely wont be blurred...

[xtv-sidecar]

Had a pic like that somewhere. cant find it now. It is hard and the camera and settings can change things.

[FG2uner]

heres a pic someone took of me when i was driving (the car to the right), but we werent passing him, so he just held the camera on us and snapped it, thats wy the backround isnt blurred. but if we were passing him and he moved the cam with us, it would be blurred like i stated earlier....

[GeezerSi]

My recommendations...

Stay away from a long focal length (< 120mm) - shorter is better, which means closer is better. Keep shutter speed up, but not too high too freeze the background 1/100 to 1/500. Move the camera with the subject.

Practice. Have fun.

[hoanger]

Thanks for the tips guys
I'll be using my 50mm most likely, i've been trying with every chance I get.. I just can't seem to get it right.
Most of the shots the car turns out blurry as well.
MAN it's tough.. anybody get some sweet rolling shots or of moving people?

[24boosted]

Originally Posted by FG2uner

heres a pic someone took of me when i was driving (the car to the right), but we werent passing him, so he just held the camera on us and snapped it, thats wy the backround isnt blurred. but if we were passing him and he moved the cam with us, it would be blurred like i stated earlier....

OR....

Blurred background:
For SLR users or even point and shoot cameras, set the AF to center focus (some have a "sports" setting for fast moving objects). Depending on the camera, usually have one of these features, even sub $200 cameras have something similar. Using one of the focus points make sure it is pointed on the object you want to be focused. Snap and the background will be blurred. AF mode = AI Servo on SLRs

Clear background:
Set shutter for high speed and the background will be clear and focused along with the object. This option is more limited to your camera's features.

Correct me if I'm wrong, some of you more experienced photographers.

[hoanger]

yeah, I forgot to mention I have an SLR

I wanna go out and try this again!

[GreyK20]

look

[szuberi]

^^i was about to say.....blurring of the background is good for a shot like this. very nice pics man

[GreyK20]

thank you

[hoanger]

thanks but I can look at those all I want, but it doesn't contribute at all to the thread.

[salvagecorp]

set the camera to a faster shutter speed and you should be good

[Zeuceone]

nice pics.

[pkkid]

Taken with an SLR, I guess the shutter speed was really high because everything is crystal clear

[XSRCivic]

Originally Posted by hoanger

thanks but I can look at those all I want, but it doesn't contribute at all to the thread.

For shots that I wonder about what settings were used I download them and view the properties of the image. For instance...


This picture was taken using these settings..

24mm Focal Length
F/4 Aperature
1/20 Shutter Speed

You can learn alot about a photographers technique by simply viewing ther picture properties. It also helps to know how they took the shot (ie: tripod, handheld etc)

Remember save, rightclick, properties, summary.

[GreyK20]

Originally Posted by hoanger

thanks but I can look at those all I want, but it doesn't contribute at all to the thread.

ohhh too bad

[arisenfury]

What the hell? Did you just repeat exactly what XSRCivic said? Plagiarism is bad.

[XSRCivic]

heh, wierd.

[GreyK20]

yup.....