© Copyright Harleston Grapevine 2009

Taking action shots

There are various tips that can help when taking action shots to make sure that the subject is sharp. One problem that is particularly noticeable with some digital cameras is “shutter lag” that is, the time lag between actually pressing the shutter and the camera recording the picture. To reduce this time as much as possible pre-focus the camera by pressing the shutter button half way down whilst viewing the spot where you are going to take the photograph. Then when you depress the shutter fully it only has to calculate the exposure.

Also if you can, set the priority mode to shutter speed rather than aperture, and then set that speed as high possible. Also set a high ISO setting – that is the equivalent of the film speed in a camera that used film.

To help get a sharper image there are two further things you can do. If possible stand so that the subject is moving towards you rather than across your field of vision. Pre-focus on a spot and press the shutter when they reach that spot. If you cannot do that you need to pan with the subject. Again pre-focus on where you want to take the picture, and then follow the subject with the camera keeping them in the centre of the frame. Keep a smooth sweep with the subject while you press the shutter, and as far as the camera is concerned you will have a stationary object and the background will be blurred giving a great sense of movement.