The Costco Connection

WHEN SHOOTING ACTION video, use your video camera’s highest frame-rate setting.

Video, as you likely know, is actually made up of many still images rapidly flashed across the screen. A frame rate of 30 frames per second is common for everyday filming, but try to film at 60 frames a second if you’re shooting action. This will usually make the action a little clearer. Plus, the higher frame rate comes in handy if you slow down the footage to analyze a close play or a spectacular moment later on. The extra frames will make your slowed-down footage look better.—DJ

Action video

So prepare yourself in advance. Scout out good areas where you’ll have a clear view of the action, and try to anticipate where the best lighting will be.

It’s also a plus to shoot activity that you’re familiar with—you’re more likely to anticipate where the best action will develop. If you can, go ahead and direct people into the right places to achieve the best photos.

Try tracking

Do you sometimes miss shots because the action happens quicker than you can aim? Try tracking—where you follow a moving object and try to keep it in the same place in your viewfinder, snapping shots as you go.

You’ll also need to focus on the moving object at the same time. (Tip: Use your camera’s “continuous” focusing mode.) It takes practice, and you’ll need to develop a steady, smooth motion. Tracking works best for subjects that are moving in a fairly predictable direction. It also works best with an optical viewfinder rather than an LCD screen, making a DSLR camera your best bet.

Pre-focus to avoid shutter lag

Some slower point-and-shoot cameras have a delay between when you press the shutter button and when the picture is actually taken. This lag can make action photography very difficult, but there’s a workaround. If you know exactly where a particular piece of action will occur, you can aim your camera at that spot ahead of time and pre-focus.

Hold the shutter button halfway down to
lock the focus, and then wait until the action
comes into your view. Then all you have to do
is press the shutter button. Your camera will
respond very quickly (no shutter lag), because
all of its exposure and focus calculations have
been made ahead of time.

Use burst, but hit the moment

In action photography, the main idea is to capture the peak moment when the action is at its climax. You may have seen sports photographers rapidly fire off a burst of images while shooting action. Later, they save one or two usable images from the peak of action, and trash the rest.

Another option is to wait and shoot only one image, timed at exactly the right moment.

This sometimes makes for better results than the burst method, but it takes considerable practice. So experiment with both methods and see which works best for you. (Keep in mind that your camera may not be fast enough to perform a fast burst.)

Tackle difficult lighting

Indoor sports like basketball, gymnastics and hockey can be quite challenging. The lighting is often low, and you may have difficulty getting your shutter speed high enough to stop the action. Go ahead and raise your ISO—high, if necessary—to help.

Indoor sports arenas are usually lit by fluorescent lighting, which has a tendency to give a green or purple cast to photos. To solve this problem, cycle through your camera’s white-balance settings until you find one that makes the colors look natural.

Remember to practice! Shoot a lot—don’t settle for just a few minutes of shooting. Your pictures will improve if you keep at it. Have fun, and don’t forget to get in on the action yourself! C

Daniel Johnson is a professional pet photographer and the author of several photography books. He also offers online photography mentoring and critiquing. To view his work, visit foxhillphoto.com.

© DANIEL JOHNSON
SHUTTERSTOCK
© DANIEL JOHNSON © DANIEL JOHNSON

Clockwise from far left: Slower shutter speeds can provide a sense of dynamic action, while faster speeds can freeze extreme movement and the elements, such as splashes of water and flying sand.