Getting Started
Action Photography is no different than any other type of photography. It requires equipment suitable to the task, a good idea of what you are expecting the final images to look like, familiarity with yur subject and the activities planned to be photographed, and the patience and determination to hang in there until you get it right. It is highly unusual to "get the shot" first time right off the bat. Successful photographs are the result of knowledge, planning, and successful execution of your idea. Sure, there are always the "grab shots" or "snapshots" that nail it the first time but these are the exception and not the rule. Knowing your subject and planning to execute the photograph will always provide a much higher percentage of successful images than any other method.
Shooting...
When shooting any action sequence, you have to determine the desired final look.
Will you try to freeze the action?
Will you try to accentuate motion in the image?
Will you try to allow the subject to blur to emphasize the movement or the action?
What are the lighting conditions you will be shooting in?
Asking yourself these questions will give you the answers necessary to achieve the desired look. Once you have this in mind you can begin to make equipment decisions like lens choice and camera settings. The lens choice can make or break the final look of the image. Choose carefully and remember that in order for the subject to look natural it must not be exxagerated or distorted, unless of course this is what you had intended.
The settings you will choose on the camera are your ISO ( sensor sensitivity or film speed), Aperture, and Shutter Speed.
ISO is the camera sensor's sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO settings on your camera, the lower the lighting levels you will need to successfully take yuor photograph. The lower the settings the more light will be needed for a successful photograph. ISO can also be used to enable the use of a higher shutter speed to freeze the action. Correspondingly the lower your shutter speed the more chances you have of the image being blurred due to movement.
Shutter Speed is the next setting you will need to set properly. The higher the shutter speed, the more you can "freeze" the action. The lower the shutter speed, the more movement you will show. Various shooting techniques can be used in combination with shutter speed to gain additional visual effects. A good example of this is "panning", or following the subject in motion while pressing the shutter release. This can take a little practice to get right so don't get frustrated too easily. It doesn't cost anything to shoot a digital picture these days, so shoot a lot!
Aperture is the final setting you will have control over. The aperture (read lens opening) determines the anount of light allowed to pass through the lens and strike the sensor, as well as the Depth of Field (region of acceptable focus). In choosing an aperture setting for your photograph keep in mind that the smaller the aperture (f/11- f/22) the more you will have in focus in you image. The larger the aperture (f/2.8 - f/5.6) the less will be in focus.
For those of you reading this with an advanced understanding of these concepts, these descriptions have been reduced to the very basics and do not attempt to describe the many detailed nuances of these subjects. That will come in a later article.
Shoot your subject from as many different and unique vantage points as possible. Get closer and try shooting from a distance. Shoot high, shoot low. BE CREATIVE! If you are shooting for a layout always remember to allow room for copy, graphics, or simple text.
Will you try to freeze the action?
Will you try to accentuate motion in the image?
Will you try to allow the subject to blur to emphasize the movement or the action?
What are the lighting conditions you will be shooting in?
Asking yourself these questions will give you the answers necessary to achieve the desired look. Once you have this in mind you can begin to make equipment decisions like lens choice and camera settings. The lens choice can make or break the final look of the image. Choose carefully and remember that in order for the subject to look natural it must not be exxagerated or distorted, unless of course this is what you had intended.
The settings you will choose on the camera are your ISO ( sensor sensitivity or film speed), Aperture, and Shutter Speed.
ISO is the camera sensor's sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO settings on your camera, the lower the lighting levels you will need to successfully take yuor photograph. The lower the settings the more light will be needed for a successful photograph. ISO can also be used to enable the use of a higher shutter speed to freeze the action. Correspondingly the lower your shutter speed the more chances you have of the image being blurred due to movement.
Shutter Speed is the next setting you will need to set properly. The higher the shutter speed, the more you can "freeze" the action. The lower the shutter speed, the more movement you will show. Various shooting techniques can be used in combination with shutter speed to gain additional visual effects. A good example of this is "panning", or following the subject in motion while pressing the shutter release. This can take a little practice to get right so don't get frustrated too easily. It doesn't cost anything to shoot a digital picture these days, so shoot a lot!
Aperture is the final setting you will have control over. The aperture (read lens opening) determines the anount of light allowed to pass through the lens and strike the sensor, as well as the Depth of Field (region of acceptable focus). In choosing an aperture setting for your photograph keep in mind that the smaller the aperture (f/11- f/22) the more you will have in focus in you image. The larger the aperture (f/2.8 - f/5.6) the less will be in focus.
For those of you reading this with an advanced understanding of these concepts, these descriptions have been reduced to the very basics and do not attempt to describe the many detailed nuances of these subjects. That will come in a later article.
Shoot your subject from as many different and unique vantage points as possible. Get closer and try shooting from a distance. Shoot high, shoot low. BE CREATIVE! If you are shooting for a layout always remember to allow room for copy, graphics, or simple text.
