More Racing Photography

Here are the final set of images taken earlier this month for the Houston Mini Motoring Society during one of their autocross events. Obtaining sharp focus while panning is pretty straight-forward if you remember to use these settings on your Canon 40D or 50D DSLR.

• Use Shutter Priority (Tv) mode at around 1/100th of a second.
• Use the center auto focus point only.
• Use AI Servo auto focus mode.
• Use a high-speed burst at 6 fps.

Racing Glow
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/18 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

On Three
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on sahutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/16 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Mean and Green
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/18 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

White Hot
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/20 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Monday’s Rat Race

Here are a few more racing images taken early this month for the Houston Mini Motoring Society during one of their autocross events. The track and cones were provided by the Houston Police Academy!

Shooting a race takes intimate knowledge of your camera so that you can adjust shutter speeds, aperture settings and focus points without taking your eye away from the viewfinder. Looking up for just a split second can mean you’ve missed a great shot. Panning while using a slow shutter speed (under 1/125th) can give your images that feeling of motion without throwing the entire car out of focus. A faster shutter speed may freeze the action but not portray the feeling of speed as the cars zoom past you. It takes practice to be able to change these settings on the fly but the reward is some very nice action shots!

Tight Turn
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/13 for 1/250th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Blue Streak
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/22 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Little Red
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/20 for 1/80th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Landscape Photography – Stone and Cedar

As I first walked down the hill from where I had parked, I noticed the unusual color of the water in these pools at Pedernales Falls. I thought perhaps it was a trick of the sun reflecting off the stone and cedar which surrounds the falls on both sides. When I climbed down to the falls I found that the water was crystal clear but each pool seemed to glow with this beautiful green color from the moss growing at the bottom. With the water also reflecting the blue sky the effect was wonderful to capture.

Stone and Cedar at Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 58mm, f/9 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Landscape Photography Using Singh-Ray’s Vari-ND Filter

I love flowing water. Images of flowing water speak to me more than any other landscape photograph except perhaps for sunsets. There is something both dynamic and serene about water flowing gently down a stream or the surf crashing against the rocks. Water just speaks to me.

To get that smooth flowing look when photographing running water, I’ve found that a shutter speed of about 1 second is usually required.

Singh-Ray’s Vari-ND neutral density filter allows me to control the amount of light which passes through my lens from 2 to 8 stops of exposure. With the filter mounted on my lens and set to its lowest setting (minimum density) I can frame my subject (the rocks and flowing water) and use my camera’s auto focus system without any trouble. When I’m ready to shoot, all I need to do is turn the outer ring to increase the density until my long shutter speed provides the effect I’m looking for in the running water. I could achieve the same effect using a conventional neutral density filter but it’s a much more time consuming process.

Running Water at Pedernales Falls, Texas
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on manual using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 32mm, f/11 for 1 second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik Software’s Viveza plug-in filters. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Landscape Photography – Gorman Falls

I arrived at Colorado Bend State Park before dawn and hiked about 2 miles to Gorman Falls, following the trail staked out with orange markers. The sun was just rising over the hills to the east and I knew I had to hurry to catch that perfect light that comes only in the early morning hours. I arrived at the end of the trail at first light to find a steep, rocky descent down to the base of the falls. The climb down looked treacherous, with no steps carved into the rock face. A few steel poles and cables had been cemented into place and I used those to guide my descent, carrying my tripod in hand with my camera slung over my shoulder. At my age, a slip and fall would spell disaster and I checked to make sure that my cell phone had reception this far from an major city. My descent was slow and measured. No sense in coming this far just to sprain an ankle and ruin my chances to get some good shots.

At the bottom of the ravine I stood in wonder at the magnificent spectacle before me. It seemed as if no one had been down here in years. The falls before me was surrounded by trees with the early morning sunlight filtering through the leaves. The green moss covered rocks and the cool spray of the falls was a refreshing sight after my long hike and climb. Excited at the prospect of capturing this beauty I quickly setup my tripod and camera and selected a medium zoom lens for my first exposures. Just a few quick test shots at f/8 to see how the water looked and if the leaves would be still enough in the breeze to be sharp in my photographs. As I sighted through my viewfinder I knew I had found the a perfect spot to spend a few wonderful hours doing what I love the most.

Gorman Falls at the Colorado Bend State Park, Texas
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/8 for 1/6th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done entirely in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

K-Man Rocks at Dobbs Ferry!

My buddy Mark (K-Man) Krajnak was rocking at Joe McNally’s latest workshop in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Don’t take my work for it. Take a LOOK!

I am so stinking jealous I’m turning green before St. Patrick’s Day.

Landscape Photography – Pedernales Falls (Almost)

Pedernales Falls is a beautifully scenic gradual waterfalls located in Blanco County just east of Johnson City, Texas. Though you’d never think so from this image, the Pedernales River can flash flood with little or no warning. The water in the river can rise from a quiet stream to a raging torrent in just a few minutes. There are signs all over the state park telling hikers to seek higher ground immediately if they notice the water rising.

I’m sure this has to do with the fact that the geology of the Edwards Plateau is an uplifted and elevated region formed from deposits of sandstone, limestone, and shale. 150 years ago this entire area was mostly grasslands but overgrazing and erosion has changed it to what we see today, hard rock and scrub trees. Although it’s still a beautiful area, the lack of topsoil and grass makes flash flooding a real danger.

Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/9 for 1/200th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done entirely in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

I was hoping for a little better water flow for my shots but the low water level did allow me to gain access to some unusual locations to shoot from such as this small area of rapids in the middle of the falls. Using a Singh-Ray Vari-ND neutral density filter allowed me to take a much longer exposure which creates the milky look to the flowing water.

Running Water at Pedernales Falls, Texas
Copyright © 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on manual using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 32mm, f/13 for 1.3 seconds at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik Software’s Silver Efex Pro plug-in filters. Click on the image above for a larger version.

The FTC, My Blog and Your Right to Know!

According to reports published yesterday by the Associated Press, the Federal Trade Commission plans to monitor blogs as part of their enforcement of revisions to 16 C.F.R. Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. It seems that the FTC is concerned that bloggers that write about products should be considered “endorsements” and therefore subject to the same regulations as advertisers. According to the draft I read, this would apply to bloggers regardless of whether they advertise on their blog or not. I’m frankly shocked that the FTC would consider a blog post to have the same impact that a paid advertisement would on radio, television or in the print media.

Just so we’re all clear on this issue. I have not and do not accept any remuneration from any company who’s products I use and write about. I have not and do not plan to accept advertisements on my blog. In fact, I pay extra to WordPress.com to ensure that no advertisements are displayed on my blog. All opinions written in this blog are my opinions only and do not reflect any scientific evidence on the validity of these opinions. I do not write about these products to influence your decision to purchase these products and obviously, your own expereinces with these products or similar products will be different than mine. Basically, take everything I say with a big grain of salt and use your own common sense.

Now, having said that, I do not plan to change the content of my blog, nor to stop writing about photographic products or techniques that I find helpful. As far as I know, we still live in a country where freedom of speach is protected by our Constitution and Bill of Rights and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I’ll let the FTC tell me what I can and cannot write on my blog.