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Photo Tips & Techniques

Action Month: Timing to Capture the Peak / Know Subject / Background Awareness by Russ Burden To end up Action Month, Russ Burden provides three quick tips to keep in mind for taking great pictures! Article rating: 8.60

Lots to think about:  freeze the motion / emphasize the action / make it artistic / zoom it / pan it / time it right / know the subject / ...........    I wanted to write a single HOW TO article on action but based on the number of topics and wanting to write more than one sentence about each, I decided to dedicate this entire month’s Tips to Action. Action and digital photography go hand in hand. Digital photography can expedite the learning process and provide better images using the instant feedback of the LCD. If the results are not what you desire, modify the settings to produce the wanted effect. Bump up the shutter speed, slow it down, adjust the ISO for more versatility, change your angle, etc. Make sure to look back at all the articles from this month to get more tips and hints on how to capture the many different ways to photograph action. See them all - Freeze the Moment / Use Slow Shutter Speeds / Implied Movement / Panning.

Timing: The decisive moment can be defined as an instant in which all elements within the image reach a climax and it’s recorded at that instant. The facial expression is priceless, the action is caught at its peak, or the moment at when the shutter was open was right on. Many people consider getting these kinds of photographs pure luck. Why is it then that some photographers are consistently and more frequently “luckier “ than others? So how does one learn how to use the decisive moment concept? The primary requisite is to always have your camera ready and to learn how to use it without thinking   through the steps of its operation. Get to the point where you can pick up your camera from a dead sleep and know what you need to do to capture the shot. A good rule of thumb when it comes to capturing the decisive moment is to always expect the unexpected. Just when you thought the action was over, something amazing occurs. Developing quick reflexes is essential in capturing the decisive moment. Always have the camera to your eye. While this may not be the most comfortable thing, the reward can be worth it. These precious moments are fleeting and when they occur, if your shutter finger isn’t engaged, you’ll miss preserving them.

Know Your Subject:  A photographer friend of mine photographs a lot of swimming and soccer events. He’s quite successful and gets requests for many images. One of the primary reasons for his success is he knows both sports. He knows where the best action will occur, he knows where to place himself to capture the peak moments, and he knows his equipment. Whether your interests lie in sports, nature, street scenes, people, etc, it’s essential you know the subjects and how they interact with the environment. For instance, if you’re interested in photographing wildlife, before you leave the house you should do some research on the species you wish to photograph to learn their behaviors, what their ear signals mean, what they do right before take off, etc. If it’s your desire to photograph babies, ask the parents when their child’s nap time is. Trying to capture a decisive moment smile if the baby is revved up to be cranky isn’t going to happen.

Background Awareness: When I run my nature photography tours I constantly profess two photographic rules by which I live: “It’s all about the light” AND “The background is equally as important as the subject.” So while it’s great to capture the quintessential moment in an action sequence, if the background is cluttered, busy, and filled with distractions, the captured image will fall short. With this in mind, be aware of what the background looks like in relation to the point from where you are photographing. If the background is cluttered, change your vantage point. It may be as simple as laying down on the ground or moving a few feet to the left or right. It may mean having to get to a higher vantage point or moving a considerable distance. This being the case, so be it. Don’t force the issue or let luck be your guide. Use the environment and your newly gained knowledge wisely.

To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy.

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