The image of the Dakota aeroplane - with spinning props - was a split-second decision of changing settings for creating the spinning / blurred propeller-effect. I was doing Birds in Flight on Manual Mode with a fast shutter speed of 1/4000s - and quickly moved to Tv Mode for setting a slower shutter speed (1/60s) and let the camera control / decide on a smaller aperture / higher f/stop value (f/18 in this case).
With a shot like this a slower shutter speed is used, for the Dakota image I used 1/60s (shutter speed) in Shutter Priority mode (Tv in Canon ), but with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens with no Image Stabilization (IS) and handheld. The aperture provided by the camera was f/18. The smaller f/stop / higher number provided for more sharpness across the aeroplane. Camera body used: Canon EOS 7D Mark II.
The long lens without IS made for quite a challenging couple of seconds ito getting a sharp enough image with decent enough propeller blur / spin.
The second image (of the motorcycle at Killarney) was in a more controlled environment (and properly setup using my Canon EOS 6D / EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens) - with the objective of blurring the wheels, the rest of the motorcycle / rider in sharp focus and with the look of fast motion all round.
Settings for the motorcycle image: Tv Mode @ 1/125s / f/13 (as provided by the camera), but with an Image Stabilized lens at more or less the same distance away from me as the aeroplane.
For both images I used Auto ISO. Both were ISO 100 (in good light).
The only way to really master these shots are doing it over and over again - keep in mind different cars, motorcycles and areoplanes move at different speeds and the shutter speed must be set accordingly. A monopod could assist, although I believe its in technique and possibly an IS / VR-enabled lens.
With shots like this I find the camera body less important than the focal length of the lens, some stability, use of an effective slower shutter speed for blurring the correct moving areas of the subject.
 |
| Slower Shutter Speed Action - Dakota in Flight : Blurring Propellers at 1/60s - Canon EOS 7D Mark II |
 |
| Slower Shutter Speed Action - Motorcycle Racing : Blurring / Spinning Wheels at 1/125s - Canon EOS 6D |
