Winning Shooting Techniques
Many action pictures are taken with the fastest shutter speed possible. This freezes the subject's movement and results in stop-action photos with sharp images. Very fast shutter speeds can even capture images that contain more than the eye can see, such as the spray surrounding a diver as he hits the water.
Using fast shutter speeds is just one way to capture fast action. There are several other techniques you can use that will also allow you to shoot in a wide variety of lighting situations and capture pictures that better convey excitement and ongoing action.
Freezing Action with Flash
Using a flash unit is one of the best ways to get good stop-action pictures in poor light conditions, both indoors and out. The burst of light made by an electronic flash only lasts about 1/1,000th to 1/10,000th of a second, more than enough time to eliminate motion blur in any fast-action situation.
Keep in mind that stop-action photos are most effective when the viewer can see something that indicates what the subject is doing. Avoid shooting people as they fly through the air unless you can also include the object they're moving away from or toward. If you're taking a picture of a gymnast doing a dismount from the horizontal bar, frame your shot so at least part of the apparatus is in the picture.
Panning the Action
Another great way to stop action in its tracks is to move your camera along with it. This technique, called panning, will usually result in a blurred background and a sharply focused subject. When a tripod isn't used or the shutter speed is very long, the whole photo can appear blurry.
Ask before using flash when shooting indoor sporting events. Since the bursts of light can be distracting to the athletes, many organizations prohibit it unless you're a professional photographer covering the event.
Panning can be a little difficult to master, but it's worth taking the time to learn how to do it well if you're serious about taking action pictures. Not only do panned pictures convey a greater sense of speed, they can also be taken with longer shutter speeds — even speeds as slow as 1/8th of a second. The slower the shutter speed, the more blurred the background will be. Flash can also be used while panning to pop the subject out of the background.
Panning Techniques
Stand with your feet planted firmly on the ground, facing directly ahead of you. You can shoot from other positions, but standing is usually easiest. Use a long lens, and stand far enough away from the subject to allow you to properly frame it.
Prefocus on the place you want to take the picture. An autofocus camera with continuous-focus or focus-tracking mode will make panning easier, as the lens will keep the subject in focus while you follow it in the viewfinder.
After you've prefocused, aim your camera toward the direction where the action will appear. Try to only turn your upper body when you're doing this — keep your feet facing your focus point and concentrate on moving your body by twisting your torso from the waist up.
As the action approaches, keep it centered in your viewfinder. Keep your feet pointed forward while you move your upper body in an arc. Keep the camera level as you move to avoid tilted images.
When the moment is right, press the shutter.
Keep following the subject in your viewfinder after you take the shot. This follow-through action is necessary to capture the entire effect of the pan. Don't get distracted by the image blackout caused by the slow shutter speed — just keep moving through the shot.
You can also pan with your camera mounted on a tripod. Some people find it easier to do so for the following reasons:
Smoother panning: The tripod will keep the camera steady throughout the panning action.
Better images: Using the swivel head on a tripod eliminates jerkiness, which can cause vertical blurring in addition to the horizontal effect you're after.
Less shooting fatigue: Standing in place with your camera, especially when you're using a long lens, can tire you out in a hurry.
FIGURE 16-1 A bird on the wing is a challenging shot that can be captured when you have mastered the art of panning.
Since the tripod replaces your body movement, you can follow the same procedure as given above when using one for panning.
Although panning is just about the best way to capture objects while they're moving and make them look like they're moving, it does have its drawbacks. It's not an easy technique to master, nor is it easy to keep things focused as you're moving the camera.
Also, it takes some practice to match your panning speed to the speed of the subject, although panning faster or slower doesn't necessarily result in bad pictures, just ones in which the subjects are more blurred.
