How to take great action photographs

[Peter_S.]

In this how-to, we’ll introduce some techniques for shooting moving subjects with a sense of presence and energy. Sony’s α cameras have various functions to help shoot moving subjects like sports or railway scenes.

Capturing a moving subject in sharp focus

To momentarily ‘freeze’ a subject in motion in an impressive shot, you need to use fast shutter speeds.

If you are new to photography, try using the “Sports Action” mode on your camera to get this effect. You’ll find this option in the Scene Selection (shooting mode) menu. It uses fast shutter speeds and tracks the subject with AF (auto focus), which allows you to take shots that freeze the motion of a subject. While your finger is held down, continuous shooting will capture several images in a burst, increasing your chances of getting the best possible shot of the scene.

To shoot these examples, the photographer pressed the shutter button immediately before the child jumped, and kept holding it until the motion stopped. The 2 photographs here are the best shots among the continuous shots. With the shutter speed set to 1/800 sec, the motion of the subject looks frozen.

You can also control the shutter speed manually using the camera’s “S” mode.

As the "Sports Action" mode in Scene Selection is one of the auto shooting modes, you can’t change the brightness and colour settings. To control these, and functions like exposure compensation and white balance, shoot in “S” mode. Set the autofocus mode to AF-C (Continuous AF), and the drive mode to Continuous Shooting, so that you can shoot moving subjects continuously.

When shooting sports scenes, a close-up of the main subject in motion in the centre of the frame can create a strong photograph with a sense of presence. This can be achieved by using a lens with a powerful zoom, like the SAL70300G.

Getting the composition right

Once you’re used to continuous shooting, you can start to think about composition. Usually, a well-balanced composition follows the ‘rule of thirds’, where the elements in the photo are aligned with an imaginary 3x3 grid across the whole area of the photograph. However, with action photography where you want to express the dynamism of the moment, you could also try placing the subject in the centre of the frame. This helps express the power and the theme of the subject. When shooting sports scenes, a close-up of the main subject in motion in the centre of the frame can create a strong photograph with a sense of presence.

Focal length: 300 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec

These examples show the subject in the centre of the frame. By zooming in with a telephoto lens, the photographer has captured the power and athleticism of the subject. Having the subject in the centre of the frame also makes it easier to bring into focus. A lens like the SEL55210 can help you achieve crisp, stable images when zooming in on distant subjects.

When you’re shooting moving subjects, the situation can change dramatically in a moment, unlike with motionless landscapes. So your top priority is not to miss the shooting opportunity and to take as many shots as possible. First, get used to continuous shooting, and leave the composition until you have more experience. You can always improve composition by cropping images on the computer later on.

Focal length: 200 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec

Trying telephoto lenses

In sports scenes, zooming in on the subject is an effective way to convey movement. In environments where you need to shoot from a distance, telephoto lenses are a necessity. They are highly recommended for those who often shoot sports games, birds and other animals.

Focal length: 300 mm / F-number: 7.1 / Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec

Focal length: 208 mm / F-number: 6.3 / Shutter speed: 1/320 sec

For more photography tips and techniques, try these tutorials:

• Shoot impressive portraits with people highlighted
• Let the small item play the major role