Weekly Competition #220 - Best Panning shot Competition

I must confess to approaching this task of judging with some trepidation. My vision for this week was based on a classical interpretation of the technique of Panning [described here link ] and on reflection I should perhaps have been more prescriptive in describing Panning as distinct from ‘tracking’ a moving subject. Inherent in the concept of Panning is a slow shutter speed, perhaps 1/40th or less rather than a ‘frozen’ action shot [of which some real crackers have been submitted].
So… this is very much a personal view from the perspective of my vision for the competition.

On the floor by Puma
This is a good exposure, sharp and well lit. You have captured the drama of the moment, with the mud shooting up behind the bike and that sense of the rider only just keeping everything together. As a freeze action shot this is terrific. Would love to have seen this as a pan with a slower shutter speed.

Jetski by mudge
You’ve captured a great combination here, sun, sea, adventure – really makes me want to swap places with that jetski rider. In terms of composition I initially wanted to see the jetski riders faces – but then realised my desire to trade places is fuelled by the jetski moving away – there is a sense of loss, of being left behind. That was unexpected. It can be very difficult to capture a panning shot when the subject isn’t moving parallel to the shooter, and for me this image falls [in the context of this task] at that hurdle. Nonetheless a good capture, I love the spray and the lighting. Very evocative.

It’s a bird…. by JudithAnn
You say lucky shot – I say being in the right place at the right time and having the wherewithal to capitalise on the opportunity presented – and didn’t you just! With some shots you have predictability – a car follows a circuit, a runner a track. Here we have none of that – so well done on a great capture. Perhaps a slightly slower shutter speed may have blurred up those wing tips a little more and really emphasised the movement by further blurring the background – but may have degraded the subject - nonetheless well done.

To the finish line by sandinista
You can really sense the sheer effort and determination of this rider to reach the finish, and what he’s gone through to get there. The 1/40th sec exposure works well to blur the bits that move, I especially like the pedals, and you’ve paced the panning to blur the background and capture the facial details perfectly. I’d perhaps liked to have seen a wider image rather than this tight cropping on the cyclist which to my mind creates a bit of a portrait feel and detracts a little from the experience of ‘being there’ the image otherwise gives.

Downhill by AxelLuther
This is a cracking capture, enough movement to blur out the background and excellent detail of the subjects. Getting a good exposure against a snow field in bright sunshine is quite a feat in itself. Not sure anyone’s fallen asleep - I do wonder with the front pair of wellingtons touching down whether they are seconds from disaster and have closed their eyes in anticipation of a tumble – or indeed whether it is a masterful bit of steering and braking. Either way – the image puts us right in the middle of the action.


When there were 9 by TOZZA27
A pleasing composition and well done to capture the colours on the jets in these conditions. This image really shows off the skills of the pilots in keeping such a close formation and you have conveyed this well.

BAe Typhoon by BAJ
Just the right amount of blurring of the background to emphasise the forward motion of the jet, capturing the moment of take-off. For something travelling that fast with no moving parts to emphasise the movement you’ve struck a really good balance.

Heron in Flight by johnriley
By any measure this is an amazing shot. There is almost a surreal quality to this – sculptural – other worldly. The image is stunning. The symmetry of the Heron adds to the sculptural feel and the unexpected proximity of the foliage and branches to the strangeness of it all.

Supreme Skill by Hyram
A great image, catching them front-on as they sweep around and back up and over your position. Very pleasing composition and exposure. As you say – tracking them and getting this shot must have been quite a challenge.

City cyclist by davidtrout
A classic example of panning, doing everything by the book and showing how effective this technique and a 1/25th exposure really is. I love the backdrop of parked bicycles which has become an abstract of bike wheels against which the cyclist is set. Very pleasing.

Steam Train by coker
Would love to have seen this with a slower exposure and the train nearer to capture the pistons and the wheels blurring with movement. Very difficult to capture an effective pan where an image is moving towards or away from the shooting position.

Little Egret by DrOrloff
An elegant bird beautifully captured and lit – I love the lighting differences on the bright forward edge of the wing and the shaded underside of the far wing – its only a shame that this angle of sunlight puts its amazing yellow feet into the shade too. The shallow DOF puts the background out of focus rather than a slower pan exposure.

Classic Fast by HBG
A very good pan, perfectly judged at 1/25th, blurring the background and foreground very nicely helping this beautiful machine look even more desirable. It would have been nice to have had more going on in the shot but a good image overall.

Swift by ovim
This is an interesting composition as the eye is confused and tricked by what is going on. The building or wall in the background consisting of horizontal stripes does not show blurring and the absence of any features in the image, other than the cyclist, gives us no point of reference to gauge the movement of the subject. But moving it is – just a trace of the shape of the spokes and an increasing blurring of the leg as it nears the pedals leaves no doubt that this bike is moving at speed. Very good – well done.

Wind power by jimmyg
This works nicely as you have maintained a good focus on the upper body of the subject by achieving an appropriate panning speed whilst letting the rest go to motion blur. The highlights of the white-caps are a bit distracting in the image – but you can’t do much about that ! Achieves that sense of movement and excitement – and risk. Well done.`

Running fox by whactel
This must have been a difficult shot – the fox bounding away through plants. A difficult shot to Pan too when the subject is not moving left / right. I find the image to be a bit confusing to the eye as the rich red of the fox is also to be found in many of the surrounding leaves. Perhaps these colours are natural but may also be as a result of over saturation, and I think this detracts from the feel of the shot.

Francesco Cantando by flight69
Its very hard to capture a good panning shot of something with no moving parts and where you have to rely on everything going on around the subject to deliver the movement. Perhaps these subjects are best suited to a freeze-action shot? There are clearly other boats [is that the right term?] around judging by the spray in the image and it would have been great to have had other competitors in the frame to add another dimension.

Blur by Crossed-up
Very nice to see a shot taken specifically for the competition. You’ve chosen an appropriate shutter speed for the subject, achieving some lovely streaks of colour in the background which provide a good backdrop for the dark cart and [mostly dark] driver. In terms of the overall composition I can’t make my mind up about the bushes in the foreground - but on balance I find them distracting. I’m also curious – was the course up-hill or did you introduce the tilt. I may have been tempted to level it. However – both these points are down to personal choice and are very picky for what is a very good shot. Well done.

Aston Martin Vantage by ccaetano
A nicely presented shot and the car is clearly in motion – and probably at some pace. The 125th exposure seems to do the job effectively, creating a good portrait of a stunning car.

Soapbox Derby by digitalCG
This ticks all the boxes for me – drama – comedy – excitement – I’m captured instantly and I want to know what happened next – who won? The whole image works so much better for having the two carts – and the expression of the nearer driver is ideal for the scene. The 1/40th exposure works well. I love it. Well done.

BiMota by GIULIO57
An excellent portrait of the bike and rider, crisp and well lit. However, for me, the tight crop to the rider takes away too much of the context and leaves me a bit cold. Another rider, a bit more of the track perhaps would have worked better here to keep my interest of someone who is not a devotee of the sport.

BTCC by GATGK
Technically an excellent panning shot taken at 1/50th and achieving good detail and suitably blurred out background. However I do find the composition confusing, neither quite a study of the subject car nor a race. There is a second car in the image and, perhaps with a different crop, it would have been great to have seen the interplay between the two.

The Joy of Flight by RPLSF
You have captured the enjoyment of being on a swing perfectly, to judge by the girl’s expression. Trying to achieve an effective Pan shot at close range is quite a challenge and I do wonder if a slower shutter speed may have produced a yet more pleasing result – perhaps adding a dreamy floaty feel to the trailing fabric. The B&W / colour mix isn’t entirely to my taste – but I’m sure it is just the right picture for the subject to treasure.

Sidesaddle by aliengrove
I like this a lot. The light coming from behind the subjects gives a wonderful effect to their hair, especially to the pillion passenger, without losing any detail and texture in the shadow areas which are our main interest. The whole scene is just so casual, people strolling on the pavement, the woman sitting side-saddle, the driver gesticulating as he chats. Would I like to have seen a slightly longer exposure?.. I’m not sure. A longer exposure may have made a truer Pan, but the overall scene would have lost something too.

A man and a bike by ericp
It can be tricky to shoot a subject in deep shade against a bright backdrop and use of the flash may have helped here. Not sure if you were also on a bike riding in parallel or whether you shot as the cyclist passed you – either way, a slow shutter speed and maintaining focus on the bike may have produced a Pan here – perhaps using trailing sync flash? As it is, the eye is taken away from the subject and the vertical lines in the field guide you towards the horizon making for a confusing image.

So overall
1st place Soapbox Derby by digitalCG
2nd place Swift by ovim and Sidesaddle by aliengrove
3rd place Blur by Crossed-up

There are so many wonderful shots here – thank you to everyone for taking part and congratulations to the winners.

I now invite digitalCG to set the next competition.

Congratulations to digitalCG for the winning entry and many thanks to GaryJohn for the competition and the judging

Well done Gary on the judging, it was a good subject and it attracted some great entries. Congrats to the podium trio.

Yaaa, to all our winners. Sure were some fantastic shots.

Thanks to the Judge...Nice work.

Regards:

JA

Terrific winner, well done to other places too. Very well judged Gary.

What a great 1st place picture. Thankyou for the informative judging. As a newb to the Dsrl this is the first time I have tried panning. It was a fun and educational challenge to which I owe some further practice. (the subject also enjoyed her role:lol

Interesting comp, nicely called Gary - great top 3

That was a great result in a very challenging cometition, well done to everyone who took part, not forgetting out excellent judge!

Wow, I'm suitably humbled and flattered! Nice to learn a personal favourite of 2011 sits well with others. Thanks for your efforts in judging, GaryJohn - a hard act to follow.

Congrats to the podium finishers and indeed all entrants, it really is a top drawer collection of pics.

Will add the next competition this evening...

Congratulations to Gary on the judging,and Congratulations to digitalCG for winning, well done all

Congratulations to digitalCG on a great winning shot, very humorous one too! Congrats too to my fellow podium places. many thanks garyJohn for my second place and a very well judged competition, in which there were a lot of great entries.

Belated congratulations to digitalCG on a very good winning entry, also congrats to places and HC's and last but not least to gary for judging and comments, great job done

Congratulations to the winners and all the other worthy contributors!
Sorry for late response, but just returned from the birth of grandson on Saturday
mudge