Tutorial: Photographing moving vehicles

Jason · 08-31-2007, 04:09 PM

Found this a good read for some guidelines/tips:

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/cl....php?lesson=12

Cliff3 · 08-31-2007, 07:41 PM

FWIW, sticking stuff on the outside of your car will get the attention of the police. One of our guys heading down to Bimmerfest last spring had his camera stuck on the side of his car with a suction cup mount. The CHP pulled him over and told him to remove it.

Chunga · 01-28-2008, 06:34 PM

How do you focus if your camera is hanging on the outside of the car????

sixspeed · 01-29-2008, 06:47 AM

You don't need to mount your camera to the car to get shots like that. You can just as easily hand-hold and shoot through an open window of the travelling car, or out the hatch.

The only advantage of mounting the camera, is that you could mount it lower on the car than you could reach, and get a lower perspective shot.

LOLrance · 01-29-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff3

FWIW, sticking stuff on the outside of your car will get the attention of the police. One of our guys heading down to Bimmerfest last spring had his camera stuck on the side of his car with a suction cup mount. The CHP pulled him over and told him to remove it.

For rig shots, the car should not even be on let alone driving 50+mph on the freeway. If your recording video, thats a whole other subject. But as far rig shots go, the engine should not be on because the vibration will cause the rig/camera to shake. Also, the car should probably be moving less then 5mph. Anymore is just overkill imo.

m0n0x!de · 01-29-2008, 08:46 AM

Just learn Photoshop!

daddysgirl · 12-11-2008, 09:37 PM

thats awesome! thanks for the tips!

Dare · 12-12-2008, 12:08 PM

Thanks for posting, thats great!

m7ammed · 01-25-2009, 09:48 PM

the link in first post isn't working for me

Vudoo4u2 · 01-26-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phiberglass

Yea, link isn't working, but for rolling shots, just set AI servo lean out the window and shoot away. Rig shots as said above, the car should be turned off with someone pushing the car or on a slight downhill, etc.

+1 (if you have the open roads for it)

then again, if you dont have open roads, you cant be using a rig anyways...so I guess, +2

Russian325is · 02-02-2009, 08:51 PM

Here are some more rig pics...
http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/...tography-shots

And a small write up done by the guy that took em...
http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=60

scollins · 03-29-2009, 02:48 AM

The original link is busted. Here is the corrected link:
http://www.morguefile.com/docs/Class...oving_Vehicles

ssabripo · 07-03-2009, 09:05 AM

what shutter speed are you guys using?

I have a 17-50mm 2.8, and been trying to use 1/25 and shots wont come right. Any suggestions?

KingViper · 07-14-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssabripo

what shutter speed are you guys using?

I have a 17-50mm 2.8, and been trying to use 1/25 and shots wont come right. Any suggestions?

Hey,

I'm new to the forums, but have been into photography for a while.

It depends on what focal range you're shooting, but a general rule to follow, is 1/<focal range> at minimum. So..if you're shooting at 17mm, you should be ok but at 50mm your shutter isn't fast enough.

To compound the issue further, if you're using a crop body sensor, you need to take your focal range times your crop. For instance.

A Canon 50D has a sensor crop size of 1.6. So with a standard EF lens at 17mm, you're actually shooting at an effective range of 27.2mm, so your shutter still isn't fast enough. This doesn't take into account shooting from a moving car either, so you will want even faster for that. Might have to sacrifice some noise and bump up your ISO.

Twizted_bunny · 08-20-2009, 02:23 AM

I have never handheld a rolling shot using anything slower than 1/60th shutter speed... 1/25th is too long and the image becomes blurry and over exposed(depending on aperture settings)

here are a couple of mine at 1/60th handheld, out a window of a moving car at about 40mph.

Edit: I also shoot with shutter priority, I believe it is Tv mode on the canon I use, I don't want to adjust aperture and shutter when I shoot my rollers due to the fact that I shoot in the morning or evening and the light is always changing. Now I am not saying you cannot do rolling shots on full manual mode, but I am suggesting that you save yourself some time and get in more shots instead of messing with the aperture and shutter settings after every 5-10 shots.

hkbaby · 08-28-2009, 03:00 AM

TV MODE, AI SERVO, keep it 1/60 and up.
Sit in the rear passenger of a car, and stick your head out with the camera.
Be safe.

anthony @ eas · 09-25-2009, 06:17 PM

I really need to try this. I've been cheating with PS all along.

PixxByTango · 01-20-2010, 10:49 PM

Great Thread!

TheProduct · 09-21-2010, 02:27 PM

link is dead

Chewy734 · 09-24-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProduct

link is dead

http://www.morguefile.com/docs/Class...oving_Vehicles ?

Litos · 01-30-2011, 02:12 AM

some of my faves. these were 1/40 - 1/60.

Litos · 01-30-2011, 03:10 AM

don't know this guy but he saw my rig hangin out the window so he thought it would be awesome if he pointed like a badass, HAHA !!!!

08-31-2007, 04:09 PM	#1
Jason Administrator 43612 Rep 21,325 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Tutorial: Photographing moving vehicles Found this a good read for some guidelines/tips: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/cl....php?lesson=12
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-31-2007, 07:41 PM	#2
Cliff3 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 45 Posts Drives: vroom Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: here iTrader: (0)	FWIW, sticking stuff on the outside of your car will get the attention of the police. One of our guys heading down to Bimmerfest last spring had his camera stuck on the side of his car with a suction cup mount. The CHP pulled him over and told him to remove it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-28-2008, 06:34 PM	#3
Chunga Captain 37 Rep 903 Posts Drives: E90 black saphire 2008 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Denmark, sealand iTrader: (0)	How do you focus if your camera is hanging on the outside of the car???? __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2008, 06:47 AM	#4
sixspeed Z4M CSL 34 Rep 173 Posts Drives: Alpine White Z4M Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London iTrader: (0)	You don't need to mount your camera to the car to get shots like that. You can just as easily hand-hold and shoot through an open window of the travelling car, or out the hatch. The only advantage of mounting the camera, is that you could mount it lower on the car than you could reach, and get a lower perspective shot. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2008, 08:46 AM	#6
m0n0x!de Private First Class 3 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 2003 E46 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, France iTrader: (0)	Just learn Photoshop! __________________ Apple's market share is bigger than BMW's or Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes? Join us: http://www.autofriendship.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-11-2008, 09:37 PM	#7
daddysgirl k.talis 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: '07 328xi black on black; navi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: new jersey iTrader: (0)	thats awesome! thanks for the tips! __________________ ktal.328xi
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-12-2008, 12:08 PM	#8
Dare Major 83 Rep 1,334 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Montego Blue Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 E92 335iS [0.00] 2005 330ci E46 [0.00] 2008 E92 [0.00]	Thanks for posting, thats great! __________________ Car Pics Pre M-Fest 2009 Photos Official Montego E9x Owners Club: Click Here
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-25-2009, 09:48 PM	#9
m7ammed Captain 213 Rep 959 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Saudi Arabia iTrader: (0)	the link in first post isn't working for me __________________ Instgram: @m7m_photo
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-02-2009, 08:51 PM	#11
Russian325is Private First Class 26 Rep 161 Posts Drives: 335i '08 E92 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (0)	Here are some more rig pics... http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/...tography-shots And a small write up done by the guy that took em... http://mattwatkinson.com/blog/?p=60
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2009, 02:48 AM	#12
scollins Bootleggin' 'n Gunrunnin' 144 Rep 2,372 Posts Drives: 2024 X3 M40i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (3)	The original link is busted. Here is the corrected link: http://www.morguefile.com/docs/Class...oving_Vehicles __________________ Scott 2024 G01 X3 M40i, Brooklyn Grey Metallic /// 2015 F15 X5 35i, Space Gray Metallic, 99K miles /// 2013 F30 320xi, Mojave Metallic, 112k miles 2019 Ford F450 STX, Oxford White 2013 Ducati Multistrada Touring S, Red
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-03-2009, 09:05 AM	#13
ssabripo HALA MADRID! 965 Rep 2,887 Posts Drives: camels & donkeys Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl iTrader: (7)	what shutter speed are you guys using? I have a 17-50mm 2.8, and been trying to use 1/25 and shots wont come right. Any suggestions? __________________ F87 M2 Competition, Sunset Orange, Exc, DCT. SOLD F80 M3 Mineral Grey/Sakir Orange, Exc, DCT... ED 6/2015 SOLDE90 M3, Interlagos Blue / M individual two-tone, ZCP, ZP2, ZCV, DCT, ED.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-20-2009, 02:23 AM	#15
Twizted_bunny Is twizted... But has no real bunny 8 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2006 BMP VW GTi Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX iTrader: (0)	I have never handheld a rolling shot using anything slower than 1/60th shutter speed... 1/25th is too long and the image becomes blurry and over exposed(depending on aperture settings) here are a couple of mine at 1/60th handheld, out a window of a moving car at about 40mph. Edit: I also shoot with shutter priority, I believe it is Tv mode on the canon I use, I don't want to adjust aperture and shutter when I shoot my rollers due to the fact that I shoot in the morning or evening and the light is always changing. Now I am not saying you cannot do rolling shots on full manual mode, but I am suggesting that you save yourself some time and get in more shots instead of messing with the aperture and shutter settings after every 5-10 shots. __________________ That bathroom is made of lead... Time can't get in there... Last edited by Twizted_bunny; 08-20-2009 at 08:07 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2009, 03:00 AM	#16
hkbaby BEEP BEEP 1 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 996 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 416 - 852 iTrader: (0)	TV MODE, AI SERVO, keep it 1/60 and up. Sit in the rear passenger of a car, and stick your head out with the camera. Be safe. __________________ 2003 911 Turbo \| K24/18G \| Bone Stock Exterior
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2009, 06:17 PM	#17
anthony @ eas 318 Rep 3,635 Posts Drives: R56 Cooper S Join Date: May 2009 Location: 4015 E Leaverton Court, Anahiem, CA 92807 iTrader: (0)	I really need to try this. I've been cheating with PS all along.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2010, 10:49 PM	#18
PixxByTango Image Guru 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sugar Land, Texas iTrader: (0)	Great Thread! __________________ 345rwhp & 364lb/ft tq with only a reflash!! http://www.TopSpeedSales.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2010, 02:27 PM	#19
TheProduct The Product 46 Rep 343 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Florida iTrader: (1)	link is dead __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2011, 02:12 AM	#21
Litos Banned 222 Rep 2,991 Posts Drives: 2012 Challenger RT Junk Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston/Pearland iTrader: (1)	some of my faves. these were 1/40 - 1/60.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2011, 03:10 AM	#22
Litos Banned 222 Rep 2,991 Posts Drives: 2012 Challenger RT Junk Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston/Pearland iTrader: (1)	don't know this guy but he saw my rig hangin out the window so he thought it would be awesome if he pointed like a badass, HAHA !!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote