THE DREAD SHUTTER LAG
There is nothing more frustrating than aiming your digital camera at say, a hang glider poised perfectly above a sparkling sea, pressing the shutter release and having nothing happen-until the glider has moved on, half out of the shot.
This is the dread shutter release lag, a technical problem that the digital camera makers are still trying to fix. Although shutter release lag can be severely limiting, you can overcome it. But first you need to know just how much lag-if any-your digital camera suffers from.
A simple test is to have a friend place his finger to his cheek. Aim your camera at his face and then tell him to take his finger away from his face in one smooth motion, on the count of three. At the exact count of three press the shutter release button, just as your friend moves his finger. Look at the results in the LCD preview window and note where your friend’s finger is in the image. If it is close to his cheek, your camera’s lag time is minimal. If his finger is far away, you’re dealing with a long lag time. (If you’re still curious, here’s a more sophisticated test.)
Keep in mind that shutter lag is minimized if you press the shutter release button part way to pre-focus and “prime” the electronics for a quick release. Learn also to anticipate a shot, and actually release the shutter a moment before the action reaches its peak. You may also learn to appreciate the element of unpredictability-sometimes the shot you actually get is more interesting than the one you intended.
SETTING IT RIGHT
A key to capturing action is correctly adjusting your digital camera’s settings. Shutter speed is the most obvious: the faster the speed, the more likely you’ll have a sharp image rather than a blurred one. The exact shutter speed you need depends on the speed of the action, the focal length of your lens, the direction your subject is moving, and your distance. If your camera gives you control over the shutter speed, select a speed over 1/500th of a second. Some digital cameras have an “action” mode in which the camera automatically chooses a fast shutter speed and corresponding f-stop.
Getting a fast shutter speed-and a correct exposure-is usually easy on a bright, sunlit day. However, if you’re indoors, or outside in a low-light situation, digital cameras give you a trick you don’t get with film: the ability to actually change your “film speed” on a frame-by-frame basis. You do this by boosting the ISO and thus the sensitivity of the image sensor. (Changing ISO is usually done through the camera’s menu-check your manual.) It’s basically like being able to replace, say, ASA 100 film with ASA 200 whenever you need it. There is a price to pay: as you increase the ISO, “noise” (think of graininess in conventional film) increases and image quality may suffer. Still, the tradeoff is often worth it.
Many digital cameras have a burst mode, which allow you to hold the release button and shoot several frames quickly, one after another. This will also increase your odds of getting the best shot. You can often increase “burst speed” by lowering the camera’s resolution setting-again, with a reduction in quality. You’ll also probably want to select JPEG as your file format. JPEG files are generally much smaller than TIFF or RAW files and therefore take less time to write to the storage media.
And you might consider using the movie mode of your digital camera as a super-fast burst mode to capture the decisive moment. Most digital cameras offer movie modes capable of capturing 15 or more frames per second. You can shoot through the peak action, and later use software to grab the single image that best captures the moment. Granted, the image resolution is limited, but if it is a question of getting the shot or not, it’s once more worth the tradeoff.
Finally, to capture action you can always change your shooting position. Your chances of freezing a fast-moving object are greatly improved if it’s heading straight toward you, straight away from you, or on a diagonal path. It’s hardest to stop action that is moving directly across your field of view. And the further away you are from the action, the easier it is to stop-but of course you’ll lose some drama in the process.
Over the past three days we’ve discussed preparing for the road, shooting scenics, and now action photography. The next step is to get out there and start shooting. Keep in mind that one of the great blessings of digital photography is the ability to try dozens of shots, know instantly what works and then erase your mistakes. Learning to be an excellent photographer has never been easier, and a way, perhaps that’s the biggest gift the digital world has bestowed.
