How to take panning shots

Find out how to shoot panning shots for motorsport photography and more. Panning photos give a fantastic sense of movement and excitement while keeping the subject in focus. Includes some advanced panning technique tips.

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Howto & Style

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[ahpacific]

You said a "tripod with a good smooth paning head" - can you recommend something like that for a video camera? I know you specialize in photography but I'm trying to film a smooth (constant motion) shot with a video camera that involves rotation but I find it difficult the the tripod I have now because it doesn't turn as smoothly and I can't apply a steady force with my arm as I rotate it so what happens is it looks like the shot slows up or speeds up in different parts.

[photowalkthrough]

@ahpacific Ok I really cant recommend a specific video head but go for a decent brand like Manfrotto and you should be fine. I do have a tip, though. A great way to get smooth sideways pans with a cheaper head is to take an elastic band and put it around the panning handle and then pull the band. Keep the tension pretty constant and you should get a nice smooth pan with good ease-in and ease-out motion at either end of the movement.

[CJEzekiel116]

Should I use IS? I'm assuming no if I use a tripod and don't have IS modes. (IS mode 1 & 2 for example)

[photowalkthrough]

@CJEzekiel116 Absolutely if you have IS mode 2 on your lens then you should turn that on. This situation is exactly what that IS mode is for. It's a panning mode that tries to detect "intentional" panning. If it detects it then it turns off IS in that direction but leaves it ON in the perpendicular direction. So in practice that means that if you're panning side to side with IS mode 2 turned on your IS should only smooth out vertical motions but leave the side to side motion alone.

[bodiramdev]

Excellent panning tutorial.

I am trying to get panning shots of trains.

[photowalkthrough]

@bodiramdev Thanks - I'd love to see some of your pictures if you get some you're happy wth.

[andytheswann]

This guy looks like my drug dealer.

[Xxryan88xX]

three words for you GAY

[Xxryan88xX]

good video

[Xxryan88xX]

THanks soo much this helps NOT

[ahpacific]

@photowalkthrough Thanks a lot for your help/advice. I really appreciate it. I'm going to try what you recommended.