Yo Photographer
Register for FREE!
Go Back   Photography Forum > General Photography Forums > Photography Talk


Log-in/register to unlock all the member quick-links and features!
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >


Beanie's Dad
Member
Beanie's Dad is offline
Beanie's Dad is Male
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 68
 
26-06-08, 01:47 PM
#1

Advice? (Racing action shots)

I wonder if anyone could offer some advice on taking racing shots. The subjects are dogs, specifically Beagles, and the track is a straight run of ~140 yds that I have pretty good access to.

I'm using a Sony DSC-H7, which has an unfortunately useless "action" mode. It's useless because it chooses very low shutter speeds - a bug in the firmware which Sony chose to correct by bringing out a new camera (H50) rather than a firmware upgrade.

Anyway, my technique is as follows: I generally position myself beyond the end of the course, go for shutter priority with a decent speed (1/500 or better), zoom in a bit to frame the finishing area, and set and lock focus on the finishing post. I then wait for the dogs to arrive and let the camera's burst mode (around 2 fps) do its thing.

I sometimes get some usable shots, but it's very hit and miss. Any tips on better ways to approach this?





Kit 1
Canon 40D
EFS 17-55 f2.8 IS USM
EF 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM
EF 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM
My Compact/P&S: Sony DSC H50


     
Stormey's Avatar
Stormey
Senior Member
Stormey is offline
Stormey is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 754
 
26-06-08, 01:49 PM
#2

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

I was just about to post similar as I would like to get better shots of my lot running.
Kit 1
Nikon D40
My Compact/P&S: Sony DSC-P200


     
CLMG's Avatar
CLMG
Senior Member
CLMG is offline
CLMG is Female
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 1,198
 
26-06-08, 02:14 PM
#3

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Hi Beanie's Dad, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell you how it should be done, but I've taken some good-ish shots of my Jack, running flat out on the beach and doing Agility. Firstly what sort of camera do you have?
if it's a DSLR it will take quicker pic, set it to the sports setting, and on continuous picture taking, and the ISO either at 200 or 400, then focus on the dog, (I've only ever had one to focus on one at a time) and follow the dog taking pics as you go, don't focus on a spot then wait for the dog to get there, not all the pics will be brilliant,but as I said I've had some reasonabley good shots taking them this way

Just a couple I've taken





Kit 1
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
Nikon 55-200mm
My Compact/P&S: Canon Powershot A630


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
Admin Team
Azz is offline
Azz is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-08, 02:35 PM
#4

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beanie's Dad View Post
Anyway, my technique is as follows: I generally position myself beyond the end of the course, go for shutter priority with a decent speed (1/500 or better), zoom in a bit to frame the finishing area, and set and lock focus on the finishing post. I then wait for the dogs to arrive and let the camera's burst mode (around 2 fps) do its thing.
I would go into shutter priority mode and get the shutter speed as fast as possible for the available light - that should get you blur-less pictures. With regards to focusing on a particular dog, try changing the focus to tracking mode if you camera has it, this is so that it follows and keeps in focus your subject for the shot.

I'm not sure if all cameras have such a mode in their focus system tho - I would check the manual and see what it has under the focusing section.

Let us know how you get on!
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
Beanie's Dad
Member
Beanie's Dad is offline
Beanie's Dad is Male
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 68
 
26-06-08, 02:42 PM
#5

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Hi CLMG (nice pics BTW) and Azz

The camera's a Sony DSC-H7. It has a shutter priority mode which gives me full control over the shutter speed, and that side of things is working well. It's the focussing and the timing that I'm finding really hard.

The camera has reasonably fast AF but not fast enough for the subjects, particularly if they're coming head on. That's where the "sports" mode really disappoints, because it has predictive AF that seems to work well but chooses ridiculously low shutter speeds (which I can't override). Shutter lag seems to be a bit of an issue as well. That's why I've gone for the static focus + burst mode method, but it only gets more so far. But of course, like everything else I need to get more practice!
Kit 1
Canon 40D
EFS 17-55 f2.8 IS USM
EF 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM
EF 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM
My Compact/P&S: Sony DSC H50


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
Admin Team
Azz is offline
Azz is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-08, 03:18 PM
#6

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

The only other thing I can think of is to stay in shutter priority mode, but then go in manual focus mode (does it have manual focus?)... then line up your shot and focus on a point where you'll want to take the shot... and then when the dogs get in line of that focus point hit the shutter!

A bit crazy but it could work?

I must add that that first pic is awesome!
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
Stanokella's Avatar
Stanokella
Senior Member
Stanokella is offline
Stanokella is Male
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,419
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-08, 03:50 PM
#7

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Just had a look at the spec's of your camera, and to have got the shots that you have is very impressive. It's missing one of the modes that helps with action shots, continuous AF. Without it, it will be very difficult to get head on shots without being very, very good with the manual focus.

I'd say ditch shutter priority and go to aperture, and have the lens wide open. Will get you the quickest shutter speed the camera can do with the conditions. Do as you have and use manual focus on a spot the dogs will run into and hit the shutter just before they get there and burst shoot till they have gone past the point you pre-focused on as Azz suggested.

Other than that I'd say change your position and pan on the dogs, with a low shutter speed to get a nice feel of movement, easier to do without continuous focus as the distance they are from you remains a little more consistent.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon micro AF 200mm f/4
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Fuji X100


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
Admin Team
Azz is offline
Azz is Male
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
Comments/Critique welcome You may edit and repost my images but ONLY on this site
 
26-06-08, 04:09 PM
#8

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Some good tips there Ste, I didn't think to change positions and go for a different 'feel'. Also didn't think to try Aperture priority either - thank goodness for forums eh?
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
samnooshka's Avatar
samnooshka
Senior Member
samnooshka is offline
samnooshka is Female
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 1,880
 
26-06-08, 04:11 PM
#9

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

For dog racing/action shots i try and have the shutter speed at around 1/600 maybe faster as in this way you will get a nice blurred background as you pan the image to give the sense of movement but its quick enough to get the dog in sharp focus.

I also sometimes set the aperture to around f4 or f5 and take shots that way, but i prefer setting the shutter speed as this also gives better control over the amount of light coming in.

Each even is different and i use different settings at each event.

This shot...


Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 90 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Different event for this shot required different settings...



Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 280 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Heres another one, with a slower shutter speed panning with the dogs as they ran past


     
Stanokella's Avatar
Stanokella
Senior Member
Stanokella is offline
Stanokella is Male
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,419
Comments/Critique welcome
 
26-06-08, 05:38 PM
#10

Re: Advice? (Racing action shots)

Nice examples sam, although I disagree on one point. Setting on shutter priority gives you no more control over the amount of light coming in compared to aperture priority. The camera's meter makes that decision for you, only in manual do you have control over the light.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon micro AF 200mm f/4
Other Kit
View my profile to see my other kit!
My Compact/P&S: Fuji X100


     
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Top


© Copyright 2008, Yo Photographer   Yo Photographer | Contact Us | Archive | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Top