9 Tips for Breathtaking Action Photography
Action photography is a lot of fun, but capturing heart-stopping shots of moving subjects can be intimidatingly difficult. Whether you’re photographing athletes, adventurers, or passersby, creating amazing action images requires intense concentration, not to mention real technical skills.
That said, it is possible to get great action photos, even if you’re just a beginner. You just have to know the right tips, tricks, and shortcuts – and that’s where this article comes in handy. Below, I share my top tips to level up your images. I discuss:
The best camera settings for action photography
How to consistently freeze those split-second moments
How to choose the right equipment
Easy techniques to improve your compositions
Much more!
Ready to capture some shots you can be proud of? Let’s dive right in, starting with:
1. Choose the right camera and lens
Most cameras these days are capable of capturing amazing action shots, though I do recommend investing in a DSLR or mirrorless system. You can grab entry-level models for pretty cheap (especially if you’re willing to shop on the used market), and they’ll certainly get the job done.
That said, if you’re serious about action photography, it often makes sense to pay for an enhanced camera – one that offers rapid continuous shooting and blazing-fast autofocus. Fortunately, camera technology is improving all the time, and there are plenty of very impressive models available for reasonable prices.
You’ll also need to think about lens choice. Since most action subjects are off in the distance, I’d recommend grabbing a telephoto lens to start, such as a 70-200mm model. Over time, you can expand your kit and think about purchasing a wide-angle lens or even a super-telephoto lens for certain scenarios, but to start, standard telephoto glass will do just fine. The wider the maximum aperture, the better; here, you can often save money by purchasing equipment sold by third-party manufacturers. Read More…