How To Capture Action Shots
The keys to capturing effective action shots are to shoot at your camera’s highest resolution, use a fast shutter speed, and take measures to reduce shutter lag.
Two of the most important techniques for stopping action and capturing the decisive moment are to use a fast shutter speed (1/350th of a second for this shot) and to enable burst mode, which allows you to fire off a rapid series of frames. You can then pick the best image from the sequence.
Following these suggestions will improve the quality of your action shots:
1. First, set your camera at its highest resolution. You will probably want to crop your image later to bring the action closer. Having extra pixels actually extends the reach of your lens, which is very helpful for this type of photography.
2. The key to “stopping action” is to use a fast shutter-speed setting. Typically, you should use a speed of at least 1/250th, 1/500th, or 1/1000th of a second. The programmed autoexposure mode on most digital cameras is calibrated to give you the fastest shutter speed possible, so you don’t need to monkey too much with your camera settings when going after action shots.
However, what you really need is lots of light. The brightest hours of the day are best (usually from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Shooting outdoors during these times should produce shutter speeds of 1/250th of a second or faster. If your camera has shutter priority mode, you can set the speed yourself and let the camera handle the corresponding aperture setting.
3. Unfortunately, a fast shutter speed doesn’t help you overcome the lag time between the moment you press the picture-taking button and when the shutter actually fires. Shutter lag is the nemesis of point-and-shoot action photographers, and overall, it’s the number one complaint about consumer digicams. Even inexpensive digital cameras should offer two features that can help you combat shutter lag:
- The first is burst mode, which allows you to take a rapid sequence of shots. If you start the sequence right as the action is initiated, your odds of capturing the decisive moment are much higher.
- The other trick is to “preset the focus,” thereby disabling the autofocus system and shortening the lag time between pressing the picture-taking button and actually recording the picture. The best way to do this is to use a function called infinity lock. The camera then “locks in” the focus at infinity, which provides you with a focus range from about 10 feet to the horizon. Once infinity lock is engaged, you can fire at will, without relying on your camera’s autofocus system. (Sometimes you have to switch to landscape mode to activate the infinity lock. This doesn’t seem intuitive, but often it works.)
If there’s not enough light to use a fast shutter speed to stop the action, increase your ISO speed setting to 200 or 400. You’ll gain a little image noise in the bargain, but it might be worth the trade-off to get a better shot.
Another helpful technique for action shooting is called panning, in which you “follow” the moving subject during exposure. Using this technique may feel odd at first, because you’re taught to always hold the camera as still as possible when taking the picture. But panning can provide stunning results—if you follow the subject accurately, it will be in focus while the background displays motion blur. This effect gives the photograph great energy and a sense of movement.
The classic panning exercise is to have a bicyclist ride by while you keep the camera fixed on the rider during exposure. Use focus lock and burst mode to give yourself the best odds for timing the shot correctly. You might not be able to fully appreciate the effect on your small LCD monitor, but when you upload the images to you computer you’ll see a wonderfully blurred background providing the sensation of motion. Give it a try!
