Action Photography Assignment 1

Action can be shown in a number of ways.  By using a fast shutter speed you can freeze the moment of some high speed event as in the photo below.  Even though the horse and rider are frozen, there are

Photo by Kelly Collins

tell tale signs that there is action in the photograph.  The horse is in a position that would not be natural for a static shot. There is some dust on the ground that has been kicked up, and the tail is trailing behind, all showing action in the photograph.  Other times you can show action by blurring the subject or the background of the photo (see photos below.)  The race car image was shot with the camera on a tripod.  The tripod is essential to keep the background sharp, as any movement from hand holding the camera will blur the background too.  The photo of the racehorse and jockey was accomplished by "Panning" the camera left to right as the two went by the photographer.  You can use a tripod to pan or try or hand-hold the camera as you pan.  The proper shutter speed will be a matter of experimentation, unless you love math and can calculate feet per second.  Also a pan/blur has an element of luck since it's hard to predict how the shot will come out.  There will be bad shots and happy accidents, but the great thing about the digital age is, it 

Object blur

doesn't cost money to press the shutter button. If the shot is a failure, you know it when you review the shot, and you have a chance to keep trying until you get the shot you want.  Assignment: (1) Using a fast shutter speed i.e. 1/500th of a second or faster, try to "freeze" a moment in time of an action shot. (2) using a slower shutter speed, show motion by allowing the image to blur while the surrounding shot is sharp.  With assignments 1 and 2, pick a spot where you know the action with pass by or where the action will be.  Prefocus on the spot or turn off autofocus so you won't have focus lag when you press the shutter button.  Set the camera on Manual mode and choose your shutter speed.  Use the camera meter or a hand held meter to determine what aperture setting is the best setting for that shutter speed.  Check your results and don't be afraid to experiment with different shutter speeds and settings.  For assignment 3, you will be using a slower shutter speed around 1/60th of a second.  As the subject passes by, pan the camera with the subject and press the shutter button.  Again, if you experience shutter lag from the camera waiting to focus, turn the autofocus off and prefocus on a spot you expect to take the picture and as the subject hits the mark, take your shot.
When you've captured your shot, post it on Facebook at Beginning Digital Photography.

 Pan Blur "Bunny Man" Photo courtesy of  Kelly Collins