Master The Art Of Action Photography In 8 Easy Steps

This is a pillar article about mastering action photography and has all you need to know to go and shoot action.

1. Carry the right equipment: If you can, carry a wide range zoom lens which will help you in framing your subject.
2. Use the correct Settings: Set the camera to programmed mode or shutter priority mode. In order to freeze action you will want to be able to choose the shutter speed. 1/250 sec is a good estimate to start with.
3. Use the right Techniques: There’s more than just freezing the subject. Panning is a wonderful technique which exhibits your expertise as a professional photographer.
4. Anticipate: Be prepared and anticipate the moment. The more you shoot, the better you’ll get at it. Some of the most spectacular moments are captured only because the photographer used the shutter at the right moment.
5. Shooting mode: The camera by default shoots one frame every press of the shutter. You may want to set it to shoot in the continuous mode so that it keeps clicking while you keep the shutter release pressed. This way you’ll be able to take more the one shot for the action you want to capture. In the end you’ll always be able to pick the better of those.
6. Image Format: Shoot in fine JPEG. RAW format creates huge files. This means your card will fill sooner than you expect in the continuous mode. Secondly it also tends to slow down the frame rate because he camera buffer is still occupied before the camera can take the next shot.
7. Focus Mode: Set the camera to use continuous focus. You may have to dig into the menus to get to this setting. Normally the camera focuses only once when you press the shutter release button halfway. When you use continuous focus and hold down the shutter release button halfway and follow that running guy, the camera will continuously keep the moving subject in focus. Comes in very handy if the subject is changing the distance from the camera (like running towards or away from you).
8. Action in the Night: Lighting conditions are challenging in the night. Use the high ISO setting. Firing the flash will make sure that the subject is lit only for a fraction of a second even though the shutter speed may be low. This will eventually freeze the subject to a considerable extent since the subject was lit only for a brief moment.

Exercise: In this exercise you will put your action shooting skills to use.

• Find a suitable place to shoot action. If you can, you’ll get some good action happening on a busy read.
• Set the shutter speed to 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 for various shots.
• Also practice panning at these shutter speeds.
• Compare the results on the computer screen.
• Share your best shots here.

Photo by micah.e