Action Shots

Most digital cameras have an autofocus mode which will be fairly effective in most given situations. However, there are times when you will need to focus manually to achieve the best shot.

Taking action shots can be daunting when starting out with a digital camera. Keeping a moving target in focus can be difficult as the distance between the camera & the subject is constantly changing.

If your camera does not have an automatic tracking/focussing mode or is not giving you the results you desire, you will need to develop your technique to achieve better results. It would not be a good idea to make your first assignment something you want to treasure such as your child’s first sports day. We are surrounded by moving objects every time we step out of the house so there is plenty of opportunity to experiment. Traffic presents such an opportunity and is a great way to hone your skills before moving on to something more important to you.

Pre-focus your camera on a spot that your subject will pass by and just before it reaches that point, press the shutter. With practice you should get the shot you are after. This can be effective but will depend on the speed of the passing object. If you want to freeze the moment and avoid blurring you will probably need to set your camera to a faster shutter speed. Don’t be disheartened if your first efforts are disappointing. It is just a matter of practice to get your timing spot on.

If you wish to capture the image of motion you will need to increase the exposure time. However any shaking of the camera will blur the picture, or put it all out of focus. This can be prevented by using a tripod Make sure you use the multi image/burst mode if your camera has one. This will greatly improve your chances of getting the shot you will treasure forever.

You can try manually tracking your subject in manual focus mode. This takes practice and is increasingly difficult if the subject is not following a set path. Poor lighting will also add to the difficulty as the need for light will prevent you from increasing the shutter speed too much.

As with most things, practice makes perfect. So go out and enjoy your camera at every opportunity.

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