Action shots

[zan]

hiya,

I've just joined this forum and thought that I'd post a couple of my topside shots while I work on getting some underwater photos worth seeing! Anyway, the point in these is to show the need to get to know the behaviour of the animal you're shooting if you want action. Luckily most creatures display repetitive behavioural patterns and once you get to know what these are (usually by watching for a few minutes), you can learn to predict the best bit of the action.

My camera (400d) is too slow to get decent shots using the shutter burst (about 3 frames per second) and point and shoots also have to contend with the shutter lag. Most things don't move too fast underwater, but this might be useful for shooting fish or seals for example.









Zan

[Cussy]

Zan,
Three very nice and sharp images.

Couple of questions: What lens are you using for these and do you tend to rely on manual or auto focus? I often resort to manual focus for fast moving birds.

Rob

[zan]

I use either a Canon 300m F4 IS or 70-200mm F4 IS. I always use the autofocus, partly because it's too hard to keep manual focus while trying to keep your footing on a boat, and partly because it's so fast and accurate with these lenses, it's not often a problem. If I find it's not picking up 100% on the right bit of the bird, I'll just switch from F4 to about F8 and that usually sorts it.

[Cussy]

Zan,
That's interesting. My Nikon 18-200 often results in mis-focus shots, so I resorted to one of the techniques I read about in Martin Edge's book, or it might have been Michael Aw, where you have a focus point and you wait until the subject hits that point before taking the shot. It's a technique often referred to at my camera club.

Must admit the different focus modes is something I've not really played with on my D80, so maybe I should.
Rob

[zan]

I think it depends on the situation really. That would work very well if it's only the bird that's moving and you know exactly where it will be (the point in watching them). If you start moving the camera as well, by being on a boat for instance, it's too hard to get it manually - at least for me!

AI servo focus mode (not sure of the nikon equivalent) is what I use with the centre focussing point and partial metering (don't have spot).

[David P]

The Canon 70-200 F4 IS is pretty awesomely quick and accurate in many focus situations (eg Red Arrows just overhead!) - which is kinda why I got it - so that may be the answer. I doubt a Nikon 18-200 will be anything like as quick (no offence otherwise).