Photographing movement 2

Exercise 5  Panning with different shutter speeds

For this exercise I took 12 photographs using a tripod to follow the movement of my volunteer cyclist. I used a range of shutter speeds from 1/1250 to 1/2 to capture the shot. Comparing these shots with the previous cyclist photographs set in the same location showed that the panning technique best captured the essence of speed here.
This can be seen by looking at the following shots:

P 24:  Panning with a shutter speed of 1/10 @ f /32 

P18 Same position with shutter speed of 1/10 @ f 32

P28 : Panning with shutter speed of 1/25 @ f/32

P17: Same position with shutter speed of 1/25 @ f/ 32

Looking at all the photographs taken, I prefer the sharpest photograph taken from the same spot for its accuracy in capturing the subject( P10). The subject could have been better positioned though - maybe a little to the left.I found it difficult to compose the shot with a moving subject even with the help of the forward moving shadow.

P10 :  1/1250 @ F/5 

That said, I do like photo ( P18 ) for its abstract feel and sense of speed.

For really showing speed though, I have to opt for P28 above, a better shot than P 24 ( marred by a vertical light strip ). It conveys speed through the streaking of the background ( handy to have a brick wall here with its blurred horizontal lines of cement adding to the sense of speed) complimenting the turning wheels while keeping a clear shot of the cyclist.
I really enjoyed doing this exercise though with hindsight I could have placed the shots better against the brick wall background. And I think that my panning technique needs a lot more practice - I suspect that I was not turning the camera quick enough as the amount of blurring at say 1/60 was hardly noticeable.

Photographing movement 1

Exercise 4  Shutter speeds

I decided to use a 'volunteer' cyclist for this exercise, having found a nearby quiet road with a long brick wall providing the backdrop.Using a tripod I took a series of shots adjusting the exposure each time my cyclist rode past. I set the camera to automatically adjust the aperture each time I changed the exposure. Starting with the fastest speed ( 1/1250 ), I followed through to a very slow one taking 12 photographs in all.

P13 : 1/500 @ f8
P13 was the sharpish version at the lowest shutter speed in the series.

P14 : 1/250 @  f11
At 1/250 a slight blur re the cycle spokes can be seen but no real sense of speed here.



P15 : 1/125 @ f16
The cycle is now more blurred than the rider
  

P16 : 1/60 @ f 22
Rider and cycle become more blurred but brick wall remains focused.


 

P17 : 1/25 @ f 32
More blurring - wheels looking wider now which gives a sense of movement.

P18 :  1/10 @ f 32
The sense of the bike spokes turning hints at movement rather than speed.

P19 : 1/4  @ f 32
A sense of forward movement but no real sense of rider .The brick wall is discernable but colour is bleached out.