Open your newspaper to the sports section, and you’ll see pages of amazing action shots, the photographer capturing the basketball as it swished in the hoop. But you don’t have to be a professional photographer to get great action shots. With the right equipment, a good location and a bit of natural instinct that you’ll develop over time, you can successfully photograph a moving subject.
To take action shots you need a digital camera that has a long zoom lens as well as a wide range of aperture and shutter speed adjustments. You also need a memory card with at least 512 MB of memory. Last, you need some way to keep the image stable. Some digital cameras have built-in stabilisation systems or a stabilised lens. If yours doesn’t, you can use a tripod to keep the camera still.
Selecting the right location:
You want to be close to the action so that your frame is filled by the subject. In some settings, such as sporting events, you’ll be limited in the locations you can shoot from. Just remember that the further you are from your subject, the longer the lens and the greater the stabilisation you’ll need.
A couple of tips:
1. Don’t shoot into the sun – you’ll wind up with a silhouette.
2. Think of the event or activity you’ll be photographing, and determine which moments you want to capture. For instance, maybe you want to catch the exact moment when the bat makes contact with the baseball. Knowing the shots you want will help you with your timing.
Getting the shot:
Follow the subject with your digital camera. When you see the shot you want in your viewfinder, press the shutter button. Cameras with AF sensors must be set to the right subject to avoid a focused background with a blurry subject. To lead your subject or take an off-centre shot, use a wide horizontal sensor. Note that the sensors won’t work as well if you turn the camera to take a vertical shot.
It might seem like using your camera’s continuous shooting mode would be the obvious choice for taking action shots. However, the single-shot mode is by far the best method. If your camera doesn’t shoot at least five frames per second, you’re unlikely to capture that perfect moment you’re anticipating.
Just the right blurring:
When first learning to take action shots, people tend to focus on getting a crisp, sharp picture. After all, blurring is what you’re trying to learn to avoid, right? Actually, that’s not always true. A blurred element in the photo brings the movement to life and can make for some of the best action photos. Moving your camera at the same speed as your subject is how you achieve this intentional blurring.
First, set your digital camera’s shutter speed to between 1/8 and 1/30 second. Select a point where you know your subject will pass and pre-focus the camera. Then, pan the camera in synch with your subject, keeping your feet still and moving only the upper half of your body. Press the shutter button when your viewfinder is displaying the shot you want.
4 tips for superb action shots:
1. If you’re taking pictures of a child or animal, move down to their level. You’ll get a much better picture than if you were looking down at your subject.
2. Flash photography gives people red eyes, and it can distract the subject and ruin the feeling of being in the moment. Rather than using a flash, increase the ISO if you’re in dim lighting.
3. Be aware of objects or people that could come between the camera and your subject.
4. A dark background is best for panned shots.
Photographing moving subjects is a skill that takes time to perfect. You won’t be an ace photo journalist overnight, but with practice, you’ll soon be capturing magic moments.
This article was brought to you by Canon Australia – Providing Helpful Tips for Shooting Moving Objects with your Digital Camera
About Canon
Canon Australia is a leading provider of advanced, simple-to-use imaging solutions for businesses and consumers. Canon’s Australian R&D company, CiSRA, develops customised solutions for local customers, and exports digital imaging technologies for use in Canon products worldwide. Canon has ranked among the top-three US patent recipients for the past 16 years, and had global revenues of around $US39 billion in 2007. Canon Australia also operates Canon Finance Australia, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wanting leasing or finance services.
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