Photography - Include Some ActionWriten by Michael Russell
Unless trying to produce a mood of stillness, include action in your pictures. Far too many photographs are static and lifeless. Even though you are making still pictures, that does not mean your subjects have to be still when you photograph them. Informal pictures of people are always better if your subjects are doing something. Candid shots are superior to posed pictures because they are lifelike and reveal natural expressions and action. If someone sees you taking his photograph and stops to pose, ask him to continue his activity so the picture will appear more spontaneous.
Even if you have to organize your subjects for a picture, don't let them become stiff or appear too posed. Make sure they are relaxed. Don't tire them out by making them wait for you to get your equipment ready and the exposure reading made. Plan as much in advance as possible and be set to shoot when your subject flashes the expression you want. Don't ask him to hold it; the result too often seems unnatural. With portraits of babies, children, or pets give them something to keep them occupied and their attention off you. A toy or snack treat works well.
There are several ways to photograph action. And shutter speed is a key factor. You can shoot at a fast speed to stop the action, or at a slow speed to let the action blur in your picture. Stop-action is very common and the purpose is to freeze the subject so the viewer can see it clearly. Stop action is effective only when the viewer realizes that the subject was moving when the picture was made. A pole-vaulter frozen in mid air or a diver doing a back flip into a swimming pool are examples. Be sure to include a point of reference so the viewer knows who the subject is and what he is doing.
The easiest way to stop action is with a Fast Shutter Speed. How fast a shutter speed depends on three interrelated factors, how fast the subject is moving, how far the subject is from the camera and the direction of the subject's movement in relation to the camera.
Another way to stop action is to trip your shutter at the peak of action. Shoot when the basketball players are at the highest point of their jump. Make your exposure the instant the action is suspended.
Action can also be captured by panning with the subject. This is one of the most effective techniques for portraying the feeling of motion in your photographs. To pan, follow the moving subject with your camera, carefully keeping it in your viewfinder. When you decide the moment is right, press the shutter release. Since the camera was keeping pace with the moving subject, the subject will be sharp and the background blurred, which gives the feeling of speed. Slower than normal shutter speeds usually produce a very action packed effect.
Another way to stop action is by using the flash. Instead of the camera's shutter speed, it's the brief burst of light from the flash unit that freezes the action.
Slow shutter speeds can be used effectively with many subjects to show action. Experiment at various shutter speeds with flowers or leaves blowing in a breeze, children riding a merry-go-round, or a grandfather clock with its pendulum swinging. Always look around for subjects whose motion will enhance your pictures. The decision you'll need to make is how to suggest action to your viewers: stop it, blur it, or both.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Photography