Chapter 5. Shooting Action

Great action shots can be the most rewarding photography there is—be it the goal at a soccer game, a surfer on the crest of a wave, or a galloping horse. Shooting action is also very difficult. It puts more demands than ever on your shooting skills and equipment. This chapter will help you get the best action shots with your digital camera.

Chapter Contents

  • The Zen of Shooting Action

  • Optimal Digital Camera Settings for Speed

  • An Ideal Digital Camera for Action Shots

  • Panning for Action

  • Composition and Motion

  • Capturing the Decisive Moment

  • Focus on Reaction

The Zen of Shooting Action

The faster an object moves, the more challenging it becomes to capture the decisive moment. Take a look at the surfer shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1. This ...

Get Shooting Digital: Pro Tips for Taking Great Pictures with Your Digital Camera now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.