Callaway Gardens-Day One-Butterfly Garden-Part 2

Houston Rodeo

An Extended Shiflet Family Christmas

3, 2, 1, Action!,

OK, you have action, but how do you catch it without the picture being blurred beyond distinction?

There are two main ways to approach Action.

The First is to produce a perfectly clear picture of a subject in action. I call this

The Crystal Method

You can do this by using a very fast shutter-speed and by carefully following the face of your subject. This can be very difficult and it takes a lot of practice, but can be mastered with diligence.

The Second is to produce a picture that is blurred in places to show motion. I call this one

The Distortion Method

Use a slower shutter-speed, focus and follow the subjects face and the face should appear clear, while the rest of the image should be blurred slightly. Again, this takes patience.

Children

• Position yourself at the middle of their "track" to enable you to catch your subjects after they've sped up and before they begin to slow down.
  
• Try to get right up close and take the picture right before they run over you...then you better get out of the way! :)
• Then experiment with the two methods above, there is no wrong method.

Sports

• First off, use a telephoto lens, if you don't have one stick to sporting events where you can get really close to the field.
• In sports I have found it best to use the "crystal" method though you are not limited to that method.
• Choose to either focus on a certain player (perhaps a sibling or child) and focus on their face and follow their face across the field/court then when the time is right take the picture.
• The other way is to focus on the ball (perhaps at a college or professional sporting event) and follow the ball across the field/court and take the picture in the heat of the action.
• As you watch the game follow the action, this will determine where you aim the camera.

Animals

• Using the Crystal Method, focus on the head, follow the animal across the plane and hit the shutter freezing the animal in time.
  
• Using the Distortion Method, focus on their face, follow the animal across the plane, and let the rest of their body blur. With four-legged creatures (i.e. dogs or cats) this method produces a very pleasing picture.
• If it's a dog play fetch or "tag" and get him to run towards you, snap the picture right before he gets to you.
• Bring along some treats or food scraps, persuade your pet that it is in his best interests that he cooperates...:D

Water

• I personally favor the Distortion method though you can use either method.
• If you use a longer shutter-speed (say 1/4 or longer) you can achieve a smooth silky surface.
• Pick a pretty foreground/background such as some lush, green foliage to frame the waterfall/river.
  
• Consider the rule of thirds.