Section II Shooting
248
or racquetball, feature more random and
unpredictable motion, making it more difficult
to anticipate the peak of action. Good timing
is vital, since the shutter must be released an
instant before the peak of action takes place. This
means that, if you wait to see the peak of action in
your viewfinder, it is too late to press the shutter
release—you will miss the shot. It takes practice,
plus knowledge of the sport, to perfect your
timing.
With some digital cameras, capturing the
peak of action is made more difficult by shutter
lag, a noticeable delay between the time the
shutter release is pressed and the actual opening
of the shutter. The problem exists mostly in
older models and the simpler point-and-shoot
cameras—digital SLRs usually respond as
quickly as film SLRs when the shutter release is
pressed. Shutter lag is caused by slow operation
of the camera’s autofocus system, and can often
be overcome by pressing and holding the shutter
release halfway down to prefocus. To make the
exposure, press the release the rest of the way.
Your chance of capturing the peak of action
can be improved by the careful use of the motor
drive (also called continuous film advance or
burst mode) feature found on most SLR cameras
today. Separate motor drives are available as
accessories for older film cameras. On a film
camera, the battery-operated drive will keep
making exposures as long as the shutter release
is pressed. Many cameras will make exposures
at a rate of from 3–6 frames per second. By using
good timing and making exposures in short
bursts of 3–4 frames, a photographer has a good
chance of getting the exact shot he or she desires,
Figure 9-10. With poor timing and too heavy a
Figure 9-9. Many sports offer opportunities to stop
motion by timing the shot to capture the peak of the
action. Even the violent motion of this rodeo bull riding
event came to a virtual halt at times as it changed
direction, allowing the photographer to effectively stop
motion.
Figure 9-10. A camera’s motor drive or burst mode allows the photographer to capture a sequence of action, such as
this pitcher’s delivery, by exposing three or more frames per second. A—Windup. B—Delivery. C—Follow-through.
A B C