Chapter 11-Shooting Action

Chapter 11-Shooting Action

Interpreting Action There are three basic ways of interpreting action in a still photograph: Stopping action (42) Blurring movement Combining both in the same image Any representation of movement has to be an interpretation since you cannot show actual movement in a still image. (3) If you want actual movement use video. Many digital camera can take video clips.

Stopping action (29) Most common way of dealing with action. Sports photography is based on stopping action. High speed action when frozen can show things that you normally cannot see with your unaided eye. (31) This type of photography requires fast shutter speeds and fast camera reaction time. (32)

Shooting Action Photography

What should be the settings on the Canon cameras for stopping action? In the Program mode-set Continuous Shooting and AI Servo-this will allow you to hold down the shutter button and the camera will continue to focus as you shoot. Set a higher ISO and a faster shutter speed. Depends on the sport.

Program Mode settings: Continuous shooting with AI Serve But notice the shutter speed is very slow with an ISO of 800. Sports Mode settings (47) When set the camera will automatically increase the ISO shutter speed Program Mode versus Sports Mode

Blurred action (32) This type of action photography relies on a slow shutter speed that allow movement to occur while the shutter is open. Blurred action actually shows the movement taking place where as stopped action freezes the action in a moment in time. You can use your LCD to see if you got what you wanted from the image of the motion taking place.

Blurred Action In both of these images the flash failed to fire producing a panned, blurred image.

Combination of both (44) This type of image is usually taken with a combination flash and slow shutter speed. Flash stops the action Slow shutter speed blurs the action You can also get this effect when the subject is not moving very fast and those around the subject are moving faster

Shutter speed for stopping action Fast shutter speeds stop action. Shutter speeds can only freeze action if the action is moving slower than the shutter speed. If the action is faster than the shutter speed you will get a blur. Stopping action with a given shutter speed is dependent on the subject speed, the angle of the camera to the subject and the distance from the subject.

DEPENDS ON THE SPEED OF THE SUBJECT THE ANGLE OF THE SUBJECT THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS THE AFFECT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE RESULTING PHOTOGRAPH

Shutter speed, angle to subject s movement and distance from subject Shutter speed-remember that the faster the subject, the closer you are to the subject, and the angle of 90 degrees will require you to use the fastest shutter speed you can. You will also need a fast ISO. The camera will then set the f/stop for you. Angle to subject s movement-the closer you are to the subject and if the subject is moving from left to right, you will need a faster shutter speed to stop the action. Action coming towards you or away from you is easier to stop. Distance from subject-the closer the subject the harder it is to stop. Close and fast movement in front of you left to right will require the fastest shutter speed and high ISO settings. Speed of action-the faster the subject, the faster the shutter speed you will need to

Shutter speed for stopping action

Kodak chart that provides shutter speeds for action shots.

Preset for action images with a digital camera If you want to take action images in good lighting you can use the mode dial to set the sports setting. This will give you faster shutter speeds and higher ISO settings allowing you to stop action that is moving quite fast. The icon looks like a stylized runner.

Stopping action for impact in your photos (45) Experiment with your very fastest shutter speeds and high speed action. This may require the aperture to be wide open and a higher ISO setting. Shoot high-speed action with the continuous drive setting and hold the shutter down through the peak of the action. This will use up your memory card fast and your camera may have to stop taking images to write them to the card. Shoot high-speed action one shot at a time, watching and anticipating the peak of the action. Take lots of pictures and review them often to refine your technique in capturing peak action.

Autofocus and action (34, 46) Autofocus (AF) is a challenge with action photographs. Some digital cameras have an autofocus system that is optimized for action. Steps to good AF with action images: 1. Start your autofocus early-press the shutter button before the action is at peak and start the focus process 2. Use continuous AF settings-if you camera has this setting be sure to use it for action photography. This will allow you to have the AF constantly focus on the moving subject. 3. Know your camera-take lots of images using different settings for speed, ISO and autofocus to see what works best for your camera. 4. Anticipate action for AF-Pre-focus on a spot where you think the action will take place. Timing is key. (35) 5. Turn off AF when needed-you can use manual focus and set the focus for a spot where the action will take place.

Tips for better action images Know your subject-this will take practice shooting the type of action images that you want to become good at. You must know how a football games goes to get good images. Timing-This is a key element to action photography. Some photographers are much better at it than others. Take plenty of images to get the ones you want. Know your action Start auto focusing early Anticipate the action Know your equipment

Shutter lag and action (41) With the smaller point-and-shoot cameras you will find some shutter lag Know your camera-how fast can you take an image and how fast are you ready for the next image? Anticipation-This is the key to good action images if you have slower shutter reaction on your camera. AF-Slower AF on your camera will prevent taking great action shots. Pre-focus-Use manual settings for focus and try to prefocus on a spot. Work on the reaction lag-you can improve your reaction time with practice and work. Use continuous shooting mode settings-most digital cameras have single shot and multiple shot modes that will improve your action images.

Shutter vs Aperture priority for action Avoid the program mode and shoot with either the Aperture or Shutter Priority modes. You can also use the action setting. (Sets higher ISO and faster shutter speed)(47) Experiment with different settings. Be sure to use higher ISO setting to allow for higher shutter speeds. See what you can do with your camera. Shutter Priority (TV) Aperture Priority (AV)

Action blur This is sometimes harder to take than stopping action. Experiment and see what works best for you. Use slower shutter speeds, slower ISO settings and smaller f/stops. You can also use ND (neutral density) filters to cut the light on a very bright day.

Panning (49) What is panning? Moving the camera so that the image of a moving object remains in the same relative position in the viewfinder as you take a picture.

Panning

Blur shutter speed tips (50) Subject Shutter speed to use Running water 1.2 second Waves in big water Several seconds to long exposures like 10-20 seconds People at walking speed People running Dancers ¼ to 1/8 second 1/8-1/15 second ¼-1/8 second Running animals ¼ to 1/15 Fast cars Night street scenes Blowing leaves Fireworks 1/15-1/30 or try panning Use long exposures and a tripod ½ to 1 second Use a longer exposure to allow for several fireworks to be displayed

Some action tips Use your digital camera and the LCD to take some action shots. Experiment Shot plenty of images and select the best. Here are some tips from the pros at shooting action images and some example images of their work.

USE A TELEPHOTO LENS TO GET CLOSE TO YOUR SUBJECT. USE A FAST SHUTTER SPEED TO FREEZE THE ACTION.

YOU CAN USE YOUR FLASH TO STOP ACTION. THE FLASH FIRES AT ABOUT 1/50000TH OF A SECOND SO IT WILL STOP ANY ACTION. BE SURE TO HAVE THE FLASH SYNC SET FOR 1/60TH OR WHATEVER IT IS FOR YOUR CAMERA.

FAST ISO SETTING LOW ANGLE TO GIVE FEELING OF HEIGHT STOP ACTION WITH FAST SHUTTER SPEED

OBJECTS COMING TOWARDS YOU ARE EASIER TO STOP THEN AT RIGHT ANGLES TO YOU. FAST MOVING SUBJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO YOU ARE HARDER TO STOP. YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE A FEELING OF MOTION BY BLURRING THE SUBJECT.

STOP ACTION BY USING A FAST SHUTTER SPEED AND A TELEPHOTO LENS TO GET IN CLOSE. TRY TO GET PEAK ACTION JUST BEFORE HE GOES OVER THE BAR.

GET YOUR ACTION SUBJECT MOVING INTO THE FRAME AND NOT OUT OF IT. GIVE DISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE MOVING SUBJECT. MOVING OUT OF THE FRAME MOVING INTO OF THE FRAME

TELEPHOTO LENS GETS YOU CLOSE TO ACTION FAST SHUTTER SPEED LETS YOU STOP THE ACTION MOVING TOWARDS YOU EASIER TO STOP ACTION

DEPENDS ON THE SPEED OF THE SUBJECT THE ANGLE OF THE SUBJECT THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS THE AFFECT YOU WANT TO HAVE IN THE RESULTING PHOTOGRAPH

Shutter speed too slow Blurred pictures Shutter speed just right to stop the action. Sharp pictures

From the Internet!

WIDE ANGLE LENS, SHOT BELOW THE SUBJECT.

Sports Photographers