Teach Yourself Action Photography

Wildlife and sports photography are some of the medium’s most exciting, challenging and rewarding genres. They require fast reflexes, a keen eye for timing and detail and a thorough understanding of the subject you photograph, drawing on all your knowledge and skill as a visual creator. One of the greatest challenges is the diversity of subjects you might find yourself shooting. Wildlife comes in all shapes and sizes, with each animal exhibiting unique behaviours, while sports photography covers everything from track and field events to Formula 1 and even dance. All-in-all, the action genre is varied and fast-paced. Action shooting is equally demanding of your camera gear, requiring equipment that can keep up with your workflow and function in all manner of lighting and environmental conditions. This makes selecting the…

Sports and wildlife photography are typically gear-focused genres. More than any other type of photography, these areas are defined by high-end camera technology and heavyweight lenses, which have become synonymous with professional imaging at major sports events and in wildlife documentaries. However, while equipment is critical to getting great action shots, learning to pick the right gear for your needs and using each item properly are more important. In this section, we’ll demystify the technology and highlight key photo tools and features to look out for. You’ll discover essential buying advice for the kit to get you started on your action photography adventure and learn that high-quality products needn’t break the bank.…

Action photography is a demanding genre that requires a strong grasp of the exposure triangle and camera equipment. To capture fast-moving subjects with precision, shutter speed control is crucial and shortening these settings may be necessary to ensure sharp results. However, faster shutter speeds reduce the amount of light that reaches the camera’s sensor, resulting in underexposed frames. To compensate, working with wide-open apertures and higher ISO settings is the way to go, but these create their own challenges. Using a low f/stop number allows more light to reach the sensor, however, it also reduces the depth of field, making it harder to achieve accurate focus, while higher ISO values can lead to image noise, grainy shots and smudged detail. The key is to prioritise shutter speed and find a…

It’s often assumed that creative and enthusiast photographers prefer full-frame and even medium-format cameras for their ability to deliver a tighter depth of field and enhanced image quality at high-sensitivity settings. But that’s not the whole story. For travel, walkabout and candid street photography, smaller is better. Crop sensor bodies naturally have smaller image sensors, typically of either APS-C or Micro Four-Thirds format, along with a smaller, more lightweight construction. The same goes for their companion lenses, resulting in complete kits that are not just easier to carry around, but also enable you to shoot more inconspicuously. The advantages don’t end there. While a tight depth of field is often preferable in portraiture and still-life photography, the opposite can be true in landscape and architectural photography – or, indeed, any…

Telephoto lenses are among the most popular pieces of photographic kit, offering opportunities for stunning close-up shots. It has never been easier to get close to the action and capture candid moments in rich detail. Through their versatility, telephoto lenses have become indispensable in many photographic genres, such as wildlife, where a photographer benefits from being able to shoot animals from a distance without frightening them or risking their own life. One big advantage of telephoto lenses is their compressed perspective, which makes the background appear closer to the subject while excluding distracting elements. This is particularly useful when shooting action, as the compressed perspective creates a sense of pace. The distance from the subject combined with a wide aperture, makes backgrounds appear blurred, highlighting key features and drawing attention…

Due to the high-quality optical components, such as the sophisticated precision glass, telephoto lenses aren’t a cheap option. Therefore, it is important to think about the different requirements that your projects will entail before you buy. The first question is whether to purchase a prime lens or a zoom lens. The prime lens is mainly characterised by its low weight and precise sharpness. Here, modern zoom lenses are so technically advanced that the latter is less noticeable. Prime lenses often provide bigger apertures and can therefore control the depth of field better. In general, keep an eye on the f-stop range, as you want to be as flexible as possible. Having the extra f-stop makes a difference when shooting handheld at fast shutter speeds to maximising light and sharpness. If…