How to Take Action Photos With a 35mm Camera

Capturing action with a 35mm camera is simple with the proper camera settings and photographer's stance.

Action photos are an exciting and challenging aspect of the art of photography. Using a 35mm camera is a true test to your patience and skills and an abundance of these cameras are available for sale as people make the transition to digital photography. This tutorial will require a camera with interchangeable lenses, also called a single lens reflex, though any 35mm camera can take action shots. A SLR or camera with interchangeable lenses will give you most control over capturing your moving subject and provides more flexibility in stopping action in your photograph.

Things You'll Need

• Camera with interchangeable lenses, also called an SLR or single lens reflex camera

Instructions

1. Select a shutter speed using the shutter priority setting on your camera. A majority of 35mm cameras will have shutter priority settings, sometimes labeled Tv. Shutter speed is how fast the curtain of your lens will move when the shutter button, used to take the photo, is pressed. For action photos, settings of 1/250 of a second are necessary to stop the action in the frame of your photo and create a clear picture. By using the shutter priority setting, the camera will automatically set the aperture number needed to create a properly exposed photo with a balance of highlights and shadows. The aperture number determines the depth of field, or what will be in focus in the background of the image, by allowing a certain amount of light to enter the camera through the lens.

2. Choose a lens based on the subject you are capturing and the distance from your subject. For example, most sports photographers use a telephoto lens with an average focal distance of 70mm to 200mm. This lens allows the photographer to capture a close-up shot of the action from the sidelines where they are positioned during the game. A medium focal length of 50mm will work well for capturing children at the playground or a dog playing in the backyard.

3. Track the moving subject with your camera while holding your right hand on the shutter button and your left hand underneath the lens. Your elbows should be held close to your body, at your sides, and your feet should be shoulder width apart with one foot slightly in front of the other. This stance will allow your body to serve as a "tripod" and keep your camera steady while tracking the subject with your camera.

4. Compose the photo with the moving subject coming into open space in the frame. For example, if a dog is running from the right side of your viewfinder in the camera, press the shutter when he enters the viewfinder and leave the space empty to the left of the viewfinder where he is running towards. The outcome will show the dog in the right side of the image frame and give him the space to run towards, making the photo natural and leaving the viewer at ease.

5. Swivel your upper body with the motion of the subject and press the shutter at the moment of peak action. An example of peak action would be the moment a soccer player's foot makes contact with the ball while shooting a goal. Stop your upper body movement at the precise moment you press the shutter.

6. Raise the shutter speed to 1/500 or faster if you notice a blurring of the subject in the image. Bracket your shot by using various shutter speeds to test the proper one for stopping action in your image. Bracketing is the act of shooting the same photo with different settings to ensure the proper exposure or image is achieved.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your shutter speeds and ability to stop action on moving cars. Find a safe spot near a semi-busy road and begin shooting moving cars at different shutter speed settings. Make note of the settings in coordination with the frame number on a note pad so you may review your shots later and compare the best settings.

• If your camera is completely manual and lacks the shutter priority setting, simply set your shutter speed to the desired number, set your aperture to a number that corresponds with the shutter and press the shutter halfway to see what the meter inside of your viewfinder says in regards to the exposure. If the image is too dark, or the meter needle is below 0, turn your aperture settings towards the smaller numbers until the needle is close to 0. Each camera will function differently, but be sure to adjust the aperture, not the shutter speed, since we are focused on capturing action.

References

• Photography in Malaysia: Shutter Speeds