How to take rolling shots.

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2010fx35

Member
Location
Oregon
Car
2010 Fx35
Hey guys so this week is rolling shots and me and my girlfriend went out trying to figure out how to do it but it wasnt working out so well. We got a cannon t3i. Anyone have any suggested settings that work well and how we can adjust to get better shots. Thanks guys
 
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Camera maker: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
F-stop: f/5.6
Exposure time: 1/100 sec
Exposure bias: 0 step
Metering mode: Pattern
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
Lens: 18-35mm (stock?)
Exposure program: Manual
White balance: Auto

IMG_0765_zps7a5bdb03.jpg
Camera maker: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
F-stop: f/9
Exposure time: 1/160 sec
ISO speed: ISO-100
Exposure bias: 0 step
Focal length: 28mm
Metering mode: Pattern
Flash mode: No flash, compulsory
Lens: 18-35mm (stock?)
Exposure program: Manual
White balance: Auto
(idk why the 2nd pic has more info)
Both are shot by my friend who just got his camera, so my car was practice.

---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 PM ----------

Also... you need 3 people.
1 driver of the car being snapped.
2 people in the camera car (1 driver and 1 passenger in the back seat taking pics)
 

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Try it with a longer exposure and adjust the focus. I like rolling shots with a longer trail/blur in the background and a clear subject.



TapaTalkin'
 
2010fx35 said:
Hey guys so this week is rolling shots and me and my girlfriend went out trying to figure out how to do it but it wasnt working out so well. We got a cannon t3i. Anyone have any suggested settings that work well and how we can adjust to get better shots. Thanks guys
Click to expand...

okay, so right off the bad, you should be shooting in shutter speed priority OR manual mode.... to make it easier since you're new at rolling shots, I would just go with shutter speed priority.

There's an old rule of thumb about shutter speed that goes back to the old film days... Your shutter speed should be at least your focal length (and that is ideal for all situations, not just for rolling shots). So, in other words, if you're shooting at 35mm, your shutter speed should be AT LEAST 1/35th or faster, no slower. However, again... this is a rule of thumb that goes back BEFORE the digital age, so since you're shooting a APS-C body (non-full frame), I'm not sure if the rule applies the same or you have to factor in the crop, in your case 1.6. If so, then it would be closer to 1/50th. If you have a lens that's got image stabilization, then that gives you 2-4 stops advantage. But for the sake of it, let's just go with the old rule of thumb and go from there.

So, assuming that you have the kit lens, which is 18-55mm (right?). If so, it's actually fine for rolling shots, I would choose a focal length, and IMO 18mm is a good angle (but you in the chase car might have to be pretty close). btw, I'm sure you already know, you're going to need 2 cars and 3 people... The subject car, and the chase car... 2 drivers and the camera person.

Going by the rule of thumb, @18mm, the slowest shutter speed you'd want to go (and no slower) would be @1/18th speed but since I don't believe there's a 1/18th shutter speed, just go with 1/20th. Why slow shutter speed? Because you're trying to blur the background and the foreground (the road). And as long as you (in the chase car) are going the same speed as the subject car, technically, the subject car is staying the the same spot in the frame of your camera. 1/20th might be a little tricky so if the shots are coming out blurry (on the car), then perhaps speed up the shutter a bit.

@very slow shutter speed, remember, you're going to be "letting in" a lot of light, so which means your camera is going to automatically stop down the aperture, otherwise you'll be over exposed. I would just set the ISO @100 or whatever is the lowest (I believe with your camera, it's either ISO100 or ISO200). If your pictures are coming out overexposed, then raise the shutter speed a little. Both cars do NOT need to be driving super fast for this effect. I would NOT do this kind of shot at high noon because there will be too much light (unless it's over cast of course). Or if your subject car isn't coming out sharp, then the shutter speed is too slow and you may need to raise the shutter speed too... So, having steady hands WILL help.

---------- Post added 08-12-2013 at 02:25 AM ---------- Previous post was 08-11-2013 at 09:39 PM ----------

this rolling shot is pretty cool, but see how @1/50th of second on a 50mm focal length, from that angle, the background isn't really "that" blurred (but the road/lane is)9245662656_1e57dde7cd_b.jpgPurple Corvette C2 on the i405 South by I am Ted7, on Flickr





this photo (link below of the VW Jetta) won't embed but see how @1/20th the background is more blurred? The distance of the objects in the background matters also. Where as the photo of the vintage Corvette above, the buildings are far away there for those objects will NOT appear to be as blurred even if the shutter speed is slower
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patric...ef-bjy2s3-dc97am-8wxYHb-awrMN2-9AK2oH-9AK2BP/


That said, which leads to something else rather important, how far of the background objects are away DOES matter, the closer they are, the more of the blurred effects you're going to get. And also the angle where you're positioning yourself matters too.

Here's a shot of the subject completely from the side... it's @1/50th and on a 20mm focal length, so the shutter speed in the case didn't have to be as low, but yet, the blurred effect is more pronounced from this angle
2506710621_0364ffdee1_b.jpgHonda CBR 1000RR Motorcycle by Herman Au - http://www.hermanau.com, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 02:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 AM ----------

.


another pretty good example 1/25th shutter speed, on a 17mm focal length (but this is a full frame camera)
4793589625_21c2c8aae6_b.jpg
Rolling to Helen, GA - SOWO 2010 - by More Than Sam Dobbins, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 02:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------

1/40th on 30mm (APS-C)
5518911260_1c80bb6270_b.jpg
Subaru STi rolling shot into sunset by slowcivicseth, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 02:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:35 AM ----------

.


1/30th on a 14mm (click on link) this is a hot photo!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samhunter/3593076384/

---------- Post added at 02:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 AM ----------

anyways, you get the point...

oh and I highly recommend using a camera strap! :wink:
 

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I wanted to emphasize the importance of picking out the location of the rolling shots. Again, things closer to the subject car are going to give you MORE of that sense of motion and things further away won't (see the first pic I posted of the vintage Vette).


here's another example, and it's a good one because this shooter has the same camera as yours (the OP), and appears to be just using the kit lens.
The shutter speed in the case wasn't super slow, it's @1/50th and 18mm focal length... but that wall, being so close gave the extra sense of motion. While there's nothing exciting about a wall next to the freeway, this is a good example of the point. I would find a street with trees
8727516818_d067c5299a_b.jpg
MkV GTI Rollin by CDubbin, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 11:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 AM ----------

(I still think this photo could have been better if the shutter speed was a little more slower, like 1/30th)
 

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