Need Motorcycle Photography Advice

[Steve O Chap]

I'm going to be attending a trackday on Saturday (basically it's race practice) and while there I'm going to do some shooting. I've taken several pics in the past, but all with my old A610 point and shoot. This will be my first time taking motorsports shots with my XTi... are there any settings you all recommend? From the looks of the forecast, it's going to be a bit overcast.

The lenses I have are:
Tamron 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6
Tamron 75-300mm F/4-5.6

[The Loft Studios]

Try to stay wide open on your aperture at a shutter of at least 1/1000 or faster. So, whatever ISO that would allow you to do that should be fine.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Shutter 1/500th or faster aperture closed down about 1 to 2 stops to get closer to the sweet spot range of the lens to get sharper pics, full open will have you shooting softer than you want. So you may have to push your ISO up to fall in this range if it is cloudy.

As to which lens to use, take both, then figure out where you can stand and then see which lens gives you the best composition choices.

Now if you are shooting them at the starting line and they are not moving then you can take it down to 1/250th=smoke out if they allow that at this track if they are doing drag bike if it is motorcross then keep it at minumim of 1/500th and maybe faster, unless you are doing some panning shots (following the bike to blur the background) then take it down to a 1/60th or slower.

[shifter48]

What type of bikes are you going to shoot?? This will help to give you some base lines. Some tips that I can think of is if you haven't panned much is to shoot continous frames, this will keep you in the panning mode...For focus mode use spot focus...If you are shooting motocross at places like Highland or 3Palms make sure you're there for pratice as you can get on the track to pratice, this will give you an idea were you want to be for the Heats and Finial.
It's always a good idea to ask the track manager were and when you can shoot if they don't know you.

If you're going to be shooting Road bikes at MSR they are funny about were you can go.

I only use a 70-200mm 2.8 lens when shooting action and a 24-70mm 2.8 for pit shots, so take both your lens

Let us know what type of racing you'll be doing

[Steve O Chap]

Thanks for the info and tips...

The type of riding I'll be photographing is supersport/superbikes (crotch rockets) at MSR Houston. I'm normally riding/racing so this is going to be a big change for me to get out there and really spend some time shooting and not riding.

Originally Posted by shifter48

If you're going to be shooting Road bikes at MSR they are funny about were you can go.

You've got to be in the 'know' to get the good shots. :-) I'm friends with the LSTD and MSRH trackday organizers.

[chloew]

Play around with slower shutter speeds as well (1/60 - 1/250s) to catch some of the motion. Hold the camera still and catch the bike in motion, or even better pan with the bike as you take the picture to blur the background. Once you get good at this technique you can fairly well 'freeze' the bike around 1/125s and get a great background.

Here are two for comparison, the first shot at 1/1500 sec and the second at 1/180 sec.

1/1500s f/4.5 at 70.0mm iso100


1/180s f/13.0 at 90.0mm iso100

[shifter48]

Well, nice to hear you have an in with them. We run 125 Shifter Karts out there every once in awhile and it's a nice track. My son worked out there for awhile this past summer and got to meet Paul Tracy and other CART divers.

With that, I woud start with fast shutter speeds and 3fps-5fps to get you panning down and work down from there to see what you can hand hold. I take a monopod to help me, not only to help in panning but it's alot easier to carry heavy equip, keeps the strap off my neck all day. If you find your camera/lens doesn't focus well enough in the turns on auto continous switch to single and focus in on the turn were you want to shoot and hold it there till the bikes hit that point...again I'd use 3-5fps. I also whould shoot in JPEG instead of RAW so you can get more shots, unless you have alot of memory-atlease 2-4gig cards. Remember this will be a learning curve for you, and you know what seat-time does for that, sorta like picking that best line into the apex to get the best exit speed. Once you find it it just becomes easier each time.

Also take a pol. filter with you if it's bright and sunny. Try staying on the south side of the track also for right now to keep your back to the sun, or over your right/left shoulder.

If I think of anything else I post here.

Good luck, shoot alot. and have fun.... and post images here next week

Gregg

[Steve O Chap]

That's great info, thanks so much everyone! Hopefully i'll get some shots that are worthy of the site. :-)

[bburton]

You might want to PM forum member "ScoobyRoo." Both she and her hubby know about photography and high performance vehicles.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum/member.php?u=2051

Good luck.