Question Home

Position:Home>Visual Arts> How exactly do you take fast moving objects on SLRs?


Question: How exactly do you take fast moving objects on SLRs!?
I still can't get myself to set it to the right setting so I can take moving objects without blur!.
I try and mess around with the shutter speed but it'll blur in one way or another!.
Help please!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The shutter speed you'll need depends on how fast the subject is moving!. When I take football pictures, I can freeze the players at 1!./250 or a little more, but if a thrown ball is in the picture I need 1/1000!.

It is not always easy to get those high speeds!. You also need to understand exposure, and how shutter speed, aperture and the ISO setting affect each other!.

If you want the fastest shutter speed your lens/camera combination can provide, select the highest ISO (usually 1600) and use the biggest aperture (depends on lens, could be F3!.5 on a kit lens at 18mm focal length)!.

To do this, set your ISO to 1600 (you'll need to consult you manual on this)!. Then go into shutter priority mode (usually) Tv and set to 1/1000!. This should give you an aperture that gives a good exposure!.

There are consequences to these settings, though!. You will get noise at ISO 1600 (so try at 800 or better yet 400 first), and a large aperture means your depth of field will be small (which sometimes is desirable)

Whatever ISO you decide to use, remember to change back to 100 or 200 when done!.

Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Use a high shutter speed!. Note to previous answerer: 1/60 is insufficient to stop the motion of a jogger, never mind a 'fast-moving' object!. Start at 1/250 for things (cars, etc) moving at up to 20-30mph!. For faster vehicles, up to 40-50mph, use 1/500!. Faster again and you'll need 1/1000, or 1/2000 in extreme cases (high-speed trains, aircraft on take-off)!. Remember that objects moving across the field of vision will need a faster shutter than those moving directly towards or away from you!. That objects which are closer have a greater apparent motion than those that are more distant!. Speeds given are a guide for starters!. Experience counts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Shutter speed and panning!.

If the object is passing your field of view left to right (or even r-l) then you can do this by panning with the object!. I!.E!. you move the camera so the subject is in centre of frame, you can then use a slower shutter speed!. The background will blur to give the sense of movement but the main subject will stay in focus!. Panning done properly means you can use shutter speeds of 60 or 125!. (even slower if you don't mind movement in the subject)


For virtually any other type of movement then you need a fast shutter speed!. Anything from 250 upwards depending on direction and speed!.

The only way to get this right is to practice!.
Go out onto the street and take pictures of cars from different angles and see what the different shutter speeds and panning gives you!.

1Www@QuestionHome@Com

Panning or following the subject while pressing the shutter is a common technique!.!.

The shutter speed depends on the speed of the subject and the faster the subject, the faster the shutter speed!.

her are some examples with shutters speed specified:
http://photography-techniques!.suite101!.c!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

First, READ & STUDY the Owner's Manual for your camera!. It has a lot of useful information!.

Second, read these books: "Understanding Exposure" and "Understanding Shutter Speed", both by Bryan Peterson!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Try shutter 60 or more, depends on the lighting!. For lighter places use a higher shutter speed!. A low aperture I use 4-5 and don't forget the flash!.Www@QuestionHome@Com