Heat haze problem over distance

P

Pachycephalic

New member
I was wondering if there is any way to reduce the problem of heat haze over distance. I shoot often at various dragstrips in New Zealand and find heat haze is a problem over the greater distances such as 800m (1/2 mile). Is there any way to overcome this apart from just getting closer?
A recent example shown here is a friend's crash at the Taupo race track after his completing a 175mph pass. The majority of the shot is about the 800m distance shot on the Panasonic HC-X1000 at 2160P50 at F4 1/500s and reduced to 720P50 for Vimeo, edited using Edius 8.1.
By the way the driver is ok, being discharged after x-rays showed no injuries - just his wallet!


https://vimeo.com/150394683
 
Heatwaves form even on cold days. That black tarmac and the sun don't help. There's nothing for it but shorter focal lengths.
 
It is an actual, physical phenomenon in the atmosphere which your camera is only recording faithfully, not a failure of your equipment or techniques. There is little to do except avoid very long lenses or shooting in directions that exacerbate the problem. Deliberately shooting through heat ripples with a telephoto is a commonly used trope for indicating a hot or desert environment, and I confess to using that technique once or twice myself!

Actually I think it might add something to your dragstrip images also, if used appropriately. Real live viewers would see the same thing if they could "zoom in" on the scene as well.

- Greg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top