The Art of Action Photography
Blink and you’ll miss it, is a well worn adage that accompanies most situations that involve movement at speed. The world is always moving and it’s a photographers job to capture the magic moment as a still, while still conveying the feeling of movement.
There are two ways to convey motion in stills photography. One is blurring motion, where there is the impression of movement behind the subject to remind the viewer that it’s moving. This is best used on slower subjects. The other is freezing motion. This takes more skill and needs to be composed so that it’s obvious to the viewer that the subject is moving. You can also combine the two if you have the skill, especially if more than one subject are moving in a shot. This is especially effective if the subjects are moving at different speeds.
Sports is a classic example of entities in motion, and good action shots are not only a beauty to behold, but can also be where a good photographer makes a living. The camera can only record what it sees and the closer you are to the action, the better you, and the camera can see it. If you have a press pass, or the right contacts, getting a touchline shot shouldn’t be too difficult. Many sports will have designated areas for photographers and you will have to work with those.
Knowing the sport, or the process involved in the movement is the best way to capture a great action shot. If you can predict where the subject is going to be the next second you can get ready for them. You can also predict what else is going to be in the shot, other objects, players, things in the background and position yourself to the best advantage.
Subject placement is a staple skill for any Naples Photographer. Composition is something that can be taught, but is best learned by experience. The photographer needs to consider the subject, but also what makes up the rest of the shot, where they are in the frame and where they would be after.
Action shots also consider where the subject is going. A short burst of speed isn’t so important, for instance a boxer landing a punch. The impact of the gloved fist on the opponents face is the focus. The viewer won’t care where the glove goes after the impact, so the impact itself is the focal point. With a runner, the action is over a longer period so the composition should allow for further movement to convey motion, and the journey the runner is on.
In action photography, timing is everything. The photographer must anticipate the action and be ready for it. Quick reactions are a must, which goes back to knowing the sport or action sequence so you can be ready. Don’t rely on the camera’s burst mode either as it’s up to you, not the camera to find the shot.
Naples Photographer
admin
02/10/2010