Help With Photography

[Captain Blake]

hi farkiners

my 2 best friends ride and got me into riding, but im more into bmx, but i really am getting into photography

and i was thinking of doing bmx part time and doing mountain biking photgraphy of my friends most of the time

but im not that very good at action shot, they always come out blurry and i can never get it right, could someone give me some pointers on how to improve my photography

i have a digital camera but i cant seem to change the shutter speed to something more suitable, it doesnt seem to have a function to change the shutter speed

so if i could get a few pointers on how to improve id be very greatful

cheers

[nhd]

firstly, what camera are you using.

read the manual (seriously) to learn its functions, what you can and cant do on it.


IF you cant change the shutter speed, then youll have to become more adept at "panning" thats moving the center of your focus with the object thats moving. the background will be blurred, but your object will be sharp and still.


peace

[Captain Blake]

Model: Fujifilm FinePix S602z

im on the job of reading the manual

ive included a image of the camera if that helps at all

i also have a very small digital camera but i think this one is like 10 times better

edit: according to my dad it does have a function to change the shutter speed but is very hard to do :confused:

[freeride_sweet]

with the blury images, it would really help if u could change the shutter speed to like 500 or 1000 if u could, also make sure that what u do is follow the rider before the shot and then take it, this makes sure u get the whole rider in the shot and also makes sure that the rider is in focus, also dont just take the pic keep following the rider, it makes a beter shot and u might be able to get a funny shot after, i know i have

[olly1oo6]

if you want an action shot to come out in better focus with a slow shutter speed, follow the rider with your camera, and keep following him until you "click" - this will mean the background will come out blurry, but the rider in focus.

OR just snap on a sunny day with lots of light, this will improve your chances. other than that, a faster shutter speed will mean a bigger apeture (which will in turn reduce your depth of field), so it is limited to your cameras capability. try using a 'sports mode' function or similar.

Apeture can be controlled by the F-stop - a lower F-stop (f1.8) means a bigger apeture, to let more light in in less time, a smaller apeture or higher F-stop (f22) lets less light in but means more of the image will be in focus

hope this helps mate
[EDIT: freeride_sweet, didnt notice u mentioned the follow technique already, didnt see b4 postin]

[roasted]

flash flash, motherfucks,

adn stay close-ish to your subject unless in open light.

usually use a 250-1000 shutter speed for action, unless doing follow stuff.

[Gripper]

Like the others have said a fast shutter speed 400>1000th sec & following your subject in the view finder will help greatly.

One other significant factor with your blurry photos is that your camera may be unable to focus quickly enough or not at all on a moving subject.

In this case you can get around this by prefocusing (half press of shutter button and hold) on a point where the rider will pass through.

When they do pass through that spot fully press the shutter button.

All this will be a trial & error process, but you will succeed.

Also check out some photog books at your locak book store like "The Basic Book of Photography by Tom & Michele Grimm"

In the future if you really get serious about sport photog look at Canon's EOS 1D MkII camera and Canons line of image stabilized lenses.

With 45 AF points able to track moving subjects with military precision and IS able to help stop blurry panning you'll have little $ left for any biking....but you can be assured of getting your photos.

Good luck

[cam-o]

Also find out if your camera can change it's (simulated) film rating.
Most default to 100 ASA (or ISO, same thing)
For action a faster film like 400 will get better results.
Be aware though that some cheaper digitals will introduce 'noise' with faster film speeds. This is a grainy effect in the photo.
At 200 or 400 it shouldn't be a problem, if your camera goes to 800 then it might start being noticable.
Find out if your camera will do that and give it a shot, if it does get grainy post a message and I can show you some ways to fix it.

For good learning spots check out www.sportsshooter.com or www.fredmiranda.com

If you want you can check out my stuff too @ www.pbase.com/camord/mtb
if you click on a shot all of the camera settings are listed so you can see what sort of settings produce what sort of results.

[donthucktoflat]

there should be a little clickwheel somewhere near where your thumb or first finget goes. when the camera is on the full manual setting (should be called "M" on the mode selector dial, it will automatically be set to change the shutter speed. by pressing and holding the AV+/- button on the side of the lens while turning the wheel you should be able to change the apeture. hope this helps (i am just going off one of my mate's finepix cameras which isn't identical but pretty similar (yes he brings his camera to school, lucky ey!)

[tombre2]

mate ur using to wrong type of camera, digital camera's are shit compared to the quality of the 20yr camera's with appature and maunal light meters.
you can get 10x better photo with the old manual cameras than the new digitals. but im probly a bit one sided,

35's all the way

[donthucktoflat]

mate ur using to wrong type of camera, digital camera's are shit compared to the quality of the 20yr camera's with appature and maunal light meters.
you can get 10x better photo with the old manual cameras than the new digitals. but im probly a bit one sided,

35's all the way

i agree. i have an Olympus OM-2 with the auto winder (motor drive) and it was the first camera with AE (automatic apeture). it rocks my socks

[roasted]

I have an OM-2 an it rocks, but the difference in quality between my om-2 and my e8700 is negligible unless you blow up to quite large sizes


remember, BUY GOOD FILM.

[Captain Blake]

thanks for the advice guys

i finally perswaded my dad to teach me how to change the shutter speed, and hopfully that will improve my photography, i even got him to steal a tri-pod from his school just incase i need it :p

i might pm spoolin about this but just incase he finds this

how do you get those white backgrounds?? do yuo photoshop it, or you a backdrop or something

if you use a backdrop where can i buy one and does it cover the ground and the wall?? because your pictures look like they were taken in a completely white room

if you photoshoped it could you please teach me how to do it?? id really like to learn as it would be great fun! and would make posting peoples rides so much more fancy

cheers

[donthucktoflat]

thanks for the advice guys

i finally perswaded my dad to teach me how to change the shutter speed, and hopfully that will improve my photography, i even got him to steal a tri-pod from his school just incase i need it :p

i might pm spoolin about this but just incase he finds this

how do you get those white backgrounds?? do yuo photoshop it, or you a backdrop or something

if you use a backdrop where can i buy one and does it cover the ground and the wall?? because your pictures look like they were taken in a completely white room

if you photoshoped it could you please teach me how to do it?? id really like to learn as it would be great fun! and would make posting peoples rides so much more fancy

cheers

there are a few ways to make a whit backdrop. you can either get a white sheet, tack it up to your roof and make sure that it has a curve to it so that you cannot tell where the floor ends and the vertical bit begins. or you can buy really huge massive fuck off huge bits of backdrop card and set it up in a similar way.

for photoshop i would go out and buy a guidebook. can't remember the one i used to learn (it was with school) gut it was a good one. if there is an IT or visual art course at your (or your dad;s (sounds weird saying that:p )) then see if you can get a hold of a copy, and it should have a few excercises to learn the various functions of "the shop" (photoshop)

[roasted]

using a sheet looks bodgy.

go to a photo supplies store, and buy some seamless paper.

if you dont have lights, use a nice, evenly lit, overcast morning to take the photos.

otherwise, if youre shooting anything large, you could be spending a bit.

[nhd]

yeah i wouldnt be too worried about studio photography at this stage, it can be pretty tricky to setup (but its really easy). you can shoot objects, like a clock or whatever, you dont need to buy a massive bit of "seamless" paper, just goto an arts store and get some A1 or A0 paper. when it gets dirty, flip it over.

[DiMmY]

As everyone else has been saying, to get action shots, you need atleast about 1/400th shutter speeds. Also try use the widest apeture (should be around F2.0). Flash is also a good idea, but is pretty useless if your subject is a few metres away.

Check out some of my pics @ http://ldo.deviantart.com (no mtb related ones there yet)

[cam-o]

For a white backdrop (or any colour for that matter) use non reflective fabric.
I bought a piece of black macro-suede (like they cover couches with) for $10 from my local sewing shop and it works a treat.

With regards to the comments that film cameras are better, start comparing apples and apples boys. Of course a new cheap digital is not as good as an older high quality film body. :rolleyes: Now go play with a modern Digital SLR of high quality like a 1D Mk II and it's a whole different story. That's like saying an '05 Huffy is not as good as an '02 Intense, well derr!

[parallax]

Well little parallax over here just purchased himself a brand spanking new BLACK bodied Canon EOS 300d for his birthday!!

So when I finally manage to get my hands on a bike, I'll be trailing the cityrides trying to get some photos - coz I can't ride for shiznit :p .

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0404/blackeos300d.jpg

[donthucktoflat]

those are the cameras we use in my school photography course. they are sweet. (but i's prefer a 20D)