'Action' Shots

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Parker0485

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Just looking for some advice on what you might call action shots.

I've been trying to take photos of mine and my partners dogs play fighting but I can't get a non blurry photo.

As far as I understand it you need a fast shutter speed and a low aperture? I tried different variations in manual and every single shot was a complete mess.

Anyway I finally gave up and switched into 'sports' mode which is supposed to 'freeze the action' and it's still getting major blur.

Here's a sample shot taken in sports mode

5739388885_5a593b0cdb.jpg


I wouldn't even say they were moving that fast at the time and I'm sure my hand was pretty steady.

Just wondering which different factors could be causing this? I'm starting to feel lost with my new DSLR :lol:
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^ You also used 1/500th and 1/640th of a second - which is the important part!
 
I'd be over the moon getting the picture like that.

How old are they? The dog in my photo isn't even a year yet and she's massive, one of the softest dogs I've known aswell :)
 
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Parker0485 said:
Just looking for some advice on what you might call action shots.

I've been trying to take photos of mine and my partners dogs play fighting but I can't get a non blurry photo.

As far as I understand it you need a fast shutter speed and a low aperture? I tried different variations in manual and every single shot was a complete mess.

Anyway I finally gave up and switched into 'sports' mode which is supposed to 'freeze the action' and it's still getting major blur.

Here's a sample shot taken in sports mode

5739388885_5a593b0cdb.jpg


I wouldn't even say they were moving that fast at the time and I'm sure my hand was pretty steady.

Just wondering which different factors could be causing this? I'm starting to feel lost with my new DSLR :lol:
Click to expand...

Whats the EXIF data from the picture?

If you post your flickr pics using this method: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3684156&postcount=16
Then we'll be able to see the pic on flickr and see the data to help?

But simply, a high shutter speed is required for moving objects...... stick the camera in shutter priority, bang up the shutter speed and let ISO/aperture sort themselves out.
 
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Monty with teeth baring is 8 this year, and Bear ( the hairier one is 3 in november.
Thanks awp...probably a fluke :lol:
 
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awp said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^ You also used 1/500th and 1/640th of a second - which is the important part!
Click to expand...

I've just checked the properties of my original photo and it has the exposure time as 1/10 sec.

So that would explain it?
 
That was on AV not sports mode, ive been using sports mode for ages but people on here suggested Av etc so finding it better for sure.
 
friesianfan69 said:
That was on AV not sports mode, ive been using sports mode for ages but people on here suggested Av etc so finding it better for sure.
Click to expand...

As long as you have your minimum shutter speed high enough to capture the movement, Aperture Priority should fine too. :thumbs:
 
friesianfan69 said:
That was on AV not sports mode, ive been using sports mode for ages but people on here suggested Av etc so finding it better for sure.
Click to expand...

It seems strange that sports mode would pick such a poor shutter speed.

I'll try Zarch's suggestion when they wake up and start scrapping again :)
 
Parker0485 said:
It seems strange that sports mode would pick such a poor shutter speed.

I'll try Zarch's suggestion when they wake up and start scrapping again :)
Click to expand...

At a guess, Sports mode would give you a shutter speed that still allow for a reasonable DoF and fairly low ISO, the bias would be towards a faster shutter speed but without taking ISO/aperture to extremes.

Might also be worth switching to single point focus and AI servo so you have a better chance of getting decent focus on them ;)
 
Thanks for the advice.

It looks like it's 'poor' light that's causing my problem.. I increased the shutter speed to 500th of a second and the resulting shot was far too dark.

I've got to go as low as 100th of a second just to get a clear picture. Tried it with flash on with the increased shutter speed and it was fine but I just don't like the way flash looks on pictures.

The room honestly doesn't seem that dark to me though but I guess it's all part of the learning curve.
 
Try bumping the ISO up as far as it'll comfortably go (ISO 1600 I think with the 350D) and keep the aperture as wide as possible. That should help brighten the pictures somewhat, though the increase in ISO will bring about some noise into the shot. Still, it's much easier to fix noise in PP than it is to try and fix a blurry picture :)
 
Davey_Pitch said:
Try bumping the ISO up as far as it'll comfortably go (ISO 1600 I think with the 350D) and keep the aperture as wide as possible. That should help brighten the pictures somewhat, though the increase in ISO will bring about some noise into the shot. Still, it's much easier to fix noise in PP than it is to try and fix a blurry picture :)
Click to expand...

+1

There will be some situations where there just wont be enough light to get the shutter speed high enough even with a big aperture and high ISO.

I used to struggle with my 400D taking pictures of rugby in the winter months. My sigma lens had a maximum aperture of f6.5 @ 500mm and even with the ISO maxed out at 1600, the shutter speed would drop below 1/500 which is pretty much game over for taking pictures.
 
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