Female Grant's gazelle pan blur

[Marc Mol]

A female Grant's gazelle has spotted a cheetah approaching and legs it.

Central Serengeti- TZ.

Nikon D850
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8E FL VR +1.4tc
f/25
1/25s
ISO80@ 280mm.

H/H, cropped to pano, TK adj's, curves, levels in ACR & PS CC'20

Cheers
Marc

[John Mack]

Love a good panning shot like this. The sense of motion is great.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Marc,

I have never been a great fan of panning but what I can say is, your image is well composed, nice colour palette and I quite like the blur from the bokkie's limbs. As well as the sense of movement and speed you managed to portray.

I know it is not always the case but to me a successful, or rather perfect, panning shot is one where the subject (in this case, its face) is sharp and the background is blurred. I do feel the motion here... just wish the face was sharper - I guess this would be very difficult to achieve?

BTW I thought about trying a few panning shots during my last trip, just for experiment sake. But it was so hot that most animals were lying in the shade or standing under a tree...Oh well, it just didn't happen

Thank you so much for sharing Marc,

Kind regards,

[Marc Mol]

Many thanks John & Gabriela

I do feel the motion here... just wish the face was sharper - I guess this would be very difficult to achieve?

In the world of slow panning, granted we're talking about 1/25s, the face is about as sharp as one could possibly hope to achieve Gabriela, don't give up on this form, the face doesn't have to be absolutely critically sharp at the speeds one hopes to achieve IMO.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you Marc, I understand. I do realise it's almost impossible to have the FP on the face of the subject. And even so, at such low SS the chances it would be sharp are very thin.

I'll experiment as soon as I have a chance, won't hurt to try This panning thing must grow on me, LOL

[Marc Mol]

I'll experiment as soon as I have a chance, won't hurt to try This panning thing must grow on me, LOL

Keep experimenting for sure Gabriela,

IMO there are no real experts in this field as it's often a case of get your settings right and then pray that 1 frame in 100 will get that slow pan image we all strive for.

[Gabriela Plesea]

A lot of actuations, LOL. I shall try this only once

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Marc ...this just works as presented !!! Well done as there is everything working from .
I do not know what is the perfect SS .... i bet there is not such SS .
I do agree that the head should / cannot be tack sharp when the subject is moving that fast !!!

Enjoyed viewing this one .

Very nice work , TFS Andreas

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Superbly done Marc, loved it as it is! Great colours, nice blur and pose. TFS.

[haseeb badar]

Hi Marc -- This works for me fine . Very well done , it is very difficult to pan , I think there is no perfect shot when it comes to panning. superbly done.

TFS !

[Stephen Earle]

I love panning shots Marc. This is very good at 1/25. The trick is always to marry the ss to the amount of movement desired. It looks like this guy was moving quite fast, so... to get the amount of movement you have and a sharp enough face and horns, shows skill.