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  • Menu

Soaring Art

  • Services
    • Critique Sessions
    • 1on1 Photo Lessons
    • Soaring Art on Facebook
    • Event Photography
    • Nature Shoots
  • Image Galleries
    • Manned Flight
    • Avian Flight
    • Animal Magnetism
    • Rural Americana
    • Landscapes
    • Natural Art
  • Eagles of the Mid-West
  • On Location
    • Back Yard Birding
    • Lacassine Refuge
    • Avery Island
    • Bosque del Apache
    • Port Barrington Heron Rookery
  • Soaring Art on Facebook
  • About
  • Bosque 2016
  • Oshkosh 2014
  • Photo Assignments 2012
    • Rockford AirFest
    • SE Iowa Airshow
    • Indianapolis Airshow
    • Waukegan Airshow
    • Golden Knights
  • Photo Assignments 2013
    • Chennault Air Show 2013
    • Wings over Waukesha 2013
    • Oshkosh 2013
    • Quad Cities Air Show 2013
    • Black Hills 2013
    • Warbird Heritage Foundation
  • Photo Assignments 2011
    • Peoria Airshow
    • Waukegan Airshow
    • Rockford WWII Days
    • Wauconda Civil War Days


Are You Ready For "The Action"?

February 24, 2012 in General Photography, Tips and Tricks

More that once, a simple morning stroll through the local park or afternoon hike has resulted in some "interesting" shots.

I've developed the habit to always have my camera set on "action" when just out walking around or doing landscape shoots.  Too many times in the past, something very interesting and action oriented would present itself (like a quiet pond of waterfowl breaking out into the "fight" shot above).  I'd swing my camera to sudden action, only realize after it was all over that my settings were all wrong.  My new habit is to:

  • always walk around with my camera set to a basic "action setting":
    • Shutter at 1/1000th or better
    • ISO set to "auto"
    • Aperture of at least 5.6 with f/8 a better choice
    • Exposure compensation balanced for current lighting conditions to grab an acceptable ground/sky combo shot
    • when I come upon static or other shots I'd like to make, I adjust to the need - but AWALYS return to my action settings before moving down the road.
MCT_2011-11-28_3550.jpg
MCT_2011-11-28_3550.jpg

Without following this habit, some of my most treasured shots would have been blurred throw aways.  I won't always get the settings just right, but being prepped for a general action shot gives me a fighting chance.

Stay in focus!

Mark

Tags: Action, Tips
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