Old photos- Why do cars look like they are leaning forward at speed?

[The37Kid]

Same thing happens on the interstate with cars next to you at the right speed.

Originally Posted by oldtom69

ok- now you get to explain why the the wheels and propellers appear to turn backwards in some movie shots![hint-think frames per second]

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by oldtom69

ok- now you get to explain why the the wheels and propellers appear to turn backwards in some movie shots![hint-think frames per second]

Yep, its a frequency thing.

Some turntables used to have squares pained or etched along their sides, so you could precisely tune the RPM with a lightsource that worked on the Hertz frequency of the electricity.

[barqsnut]

Originally Posted by robertrobert

Hi all - really interesting discussion. Can I drop a fly in the ointment here and suggest that for most of these pictures (in particular the one with the people who appear to be leaning backwards in the background) there is another factor causing the effect…

True the background and the car body can only be tilted because of the shutter effects described in posts above, however the wheels have an added complication.

Let's assume the car is travelling at 100mph. The bottom of the wheel (the part touching the road) is travelling at... 0mph, the axle is travelling at 100mph and the top of the wheel is travelling at 200mph! So even with a modern camera, you will get some ellipsoid effect on the tyres, since for the period of time the shutter is open, the bottom of the wheel is effectively stationary while the centre of the wheel moves at the same speed as the car and the top of the wheel moves forward at twice the speed of the car.
Cheers - Robert

That's quite the first post. Welcome aboard and before the self appointed HAMB police anbush you, go ahead and do an introduction.

[metalshapes]

Originally Posted by robertrobert

Hi all - really interesting discussion. Can I drop a fly in the ointment here and suggest that for most of these pictures (in particular the one with the people who appear to be leaning backwards in the background) there is another factor causing the effect…

True the background and the car body can only be tilted because of the shutter effects described in posts above, however the wheels have an added complication.

Let's assume the car is travelling at 100mph. The bottom of the wheel (the part touching the road) is travelling at... 0mph, the axle is travelling at 100mph and the top of the wheel is travelling at 200mph! So even with a modern camera, you will get some ellipsoid effect on the tyres, since for the period of time the shutter is open, the bottom of the wheel is effectively stationary while the centre of the wheel moves at the same speed as the car and the top of the wheel moves forward at twice the speed of the car.
Cheers - Robert

Nope.

But nice try.

Since the wheel doesnt go out of round while its turning, it photographes round.
No matter the RPM.

The old fashioned shutter does cause the leaning forward effect.

The people and trees leaning the other way was caused by panning the camera with the moving racecar.

If they are both leaning ( in opposite directions ), then the panning want fast enough to keep up with the car...


Edit.

Just realised I replied to a post thats a couple of years old.


OK...

I guess he's off the hook for that Intro.

[noboD]

Originally Posted by oldtom69

ok- now you get to explain why the the wheels and propellers appear to turn backwards in some movie shots![hint-think frames per second]

In one of the new Ford truck commercials the wheels appear to be not turning.

[sololobo]

Cool, I am pleased to know it wasn'r just me seeing this. That #15 coupe is f'n awesome by the way! ~sololobo~

[39cent]

Originally Posted by 1950ChevySuburban

Interesting how this accidental mechanical situation caused the art community to react to it, by intentionally drawing like this to give the illusion of speed. (Think of the elliptical effects of the Roadrunner and Coyote, etc.......)

yea was thinking the same thing. I knew it was the oldtime cameras and thats where the artistS got the idea, but I didnt know why the old cams did that. ahh learned somethin again on the HAMB.

[DJCruiser]

My all time favorite photo in this category is the Cunningham at Bridgehampton.

[MattStrube]

Ansel adams talks about this in one of his books, either camera or print.

[38fordpickup]

Sounds like the same phenomenon that made the spokes of the wagon wheels look like they were turning backwards in old Westerns.

[wingnutz]

Tom Fritz and Robert Williams as well as other artists depicted speed to an other wise stationary painting to resemble the vintage photo's taken during a race.