Is Blur Good Here?

Brian Moore

Moderator
I was at Santa Anita Park for their "Photography Day" a few weeks ago and, to be honest, it was the first time I had tried to do any serious stuff with a DSLR. I was using my Canon 7d. My main "take-away" from Santa Anita was that I didn't really have a clue how to use that camera. (Working on that now.)

Anyway, trying to get the hang of panning, I managed to blur up these two images (among plenty of others that will never see the light of day.) But these two blurry efforts I actually like. I think they convey the speed and motion and spectacle of horse racing. (I'm not proud of them, mind you. They are mistakes after all. I just like them.)

I'm posting them for your opinions. I'd like to know if they are likeable from your point of view, or if they are a pair of corkers in your opinion I'd like to know that, too. Thanks.

IMG_1257.jpg


IMG_1260.jpg
 
Whilst the perfectionist would say 'you need to get the subject sharp' I think that often a little blurring often works in creating an image that says, 'speed' for me the first (which is my fave out of the two) does just that, I think it would look good in a 16 x 9 or Pano crop. It has a loose feel something akin to a painting..
 
I would have used a higher shutter speed
:D It's exactly what I was trying to do at the time, Dave, but didn't know how. (That camera has too many darn bells and whistles fo' lil' ole me!) Thanks for the feedback, though, Dave.
 
I like #1 a lot - you have more of an attachment to the image with the horses and riders coming towards you. When they are showing you their backs, the connection is lost.

Same effect when shooting sports like motorcycle racing.

I think the blur is very effective here, both background and subject - agree that a 16:9 crop would tighten up the shot, but then I'm all about 16:9.
 
:D It's exactly what I was trying to do at the time, Dave, but didn't know how. (That camera has too many darn bells and whistles fo' lil' ole me!) Thanks for the feedback, though, Dave.

did you try using shutter priority mode? (the Tv setting)
you could crank up the shutter speed & let the camera compensate with lower f-stop
 
did you try using shutter priority mode? (the Tv setting)
you could crank up the shutter speed & let the camera compensate with lower f-stop
Yes Fidel,...ultimately I did. The picture I posted here was early in the morning. By around 10 am I think I was into Shutter-Priority.

Thank you.
 
if you don't mind me asking what was your shutter speed and iso?
 
If I'm perfectly honest I'm not too sure, the first one is the better of the two and is acceptable, it looks a little 'flat' as it's stands at the moment but with a little work in PS it would work much better. I'm not so keen on the second as the blur is not truly in the direction of travel of the horses. I would without doubt work on the first and see how you can make it pop and if theres any others of a similar vein from the shoot you'll know what they need. If theres a moving subject in my shots I tend to take 4-5+ shots sometimes the slight change in composition makes the shot a little better and this might be the case here Brian.

Hope that wasn't too negative?


Vic
 
I prefer no 2 because the gap between the horses in no 1. is a bit distracting.
Well done!
 
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