Canon Rebel XS Help

[SethH94]

I just bought the Canon Rebel XS with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. I'm leaving tomorrow (Friday) for NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, (Pro Drag Racing) the cars goes from anywhere 200-320 MPH and I wanted help with how to get the best shots & what settings I should use.

In advance Thank you!

[ckaspar]

Settings for aperture and shutter speed would be impossible to be exacting but I can tell you that the photos will look better if you try to pan with the cars. It will help to imply the speeds involved. Try to make it so you can see the writing on the wheels blurred and the back/foreground motion blurred.

Make sure you get shots with lots of flames coming out of the headers and swollen tires with smoke from burnouts.

[SethH94]

Thanks a lot! I'm gonna feel really stupid when I ask this but what do you mean by pan with the cars?

[ckaspar]

Thanks a lot! I'm gonna feel really stupid when I ask this but what do you mean by pan with the cars?

Follow the cars with the camera WHILE taking the shot.

Notice the difference between these two:

1.
http://www.rncfoto.com/RC-Racing/JBRL-Round-1-West-Coast/IMG2413/824081144_US5YN-M-3.jpg

2.
http://www.rncfoto.com/RC-Racing/The-Short-Course-Race-at-West/IMG0594/879499450_Hu5eG-M.jpg

In pic 1 the motion is stopped. The wheels are stopped. The details of the track are clearly visible.

In pic 2 the wheels have a motion blur to them where it looks like they are turning. The details of the track are softer.

That is achieved by slowing down the shutter a little, called "Dragging the shutter", and following the car with the camera while the shutter is open. The shutter stays open long enough to "see" the wheels turning and the background and foreground blur a little. It helps to "imply" movement in a photo and makes it more dynamic. It will be tough at first but it you can get it down you will be happy with the results.

[SethH94]

Thanks so much! My pictures turned out so well, all 1,263 of them :P

[ckaspar]

Right on! Let's see some samples!