How To Shoot Action

Use a Slow Shutter Speed

The problem with ‘freezing’ movement is that if your subject is an inanimate object such as a car, it can appear stationary. To convey the sense of movement, use a slower shutter speed. This will introduce an element of blur to your subject to indicate that it was moving. To blur the background, rather than the subject, move the camera with the action – keeping the subject in the same position in the frame (‘panning’). Or,combine a slow shutter speed with flash. The precise speed to use depends on the speed of the action and the degree of blur you want, but try speeds between 1/60th sec and 1/4 sec.


Take Lots of Shots

Capturing the optimum moment in a fast-moving event is extremely difficult, as a fraction of a second can make all the difference between success or failure. Pro sports photographers overcome this with the use of fast motordrives, which take several shots per second, to make they get a good one, but most digital cameras don’t capture quickly enough for that. The only alternative is to take a lot of shots. Don’t be afraid to fill your memory card – you can always delete the failures after the action is over.