There's a tremendous thrill in taking pictures of genuine fast action—racing automobiles, motor-cycles, speedboats, hors, athletic events and sports.. Indeed, many enthusiastic amateurs find that this is the most zestful aspect of their camera hobby.
To picture real action, you need a camera with a speedy shutter, and a correspondingly fast lens. With modern high speed films, the fast Jens is not as necessary as it used to be—but a fast shutter, with speeds of 1/300, 1/400, or 1/500 second, will always be a necessity if you specialize in this type of picture taking.
On the other hand, if you just tak action shots now and then, and don't have a camera with an extremely high-speed shutter, there are certain tricks you can use....and these will often help you get sharp action pictures, even though you are handicapped by a slow shutter.
For example, look at the picture above., The action is almost "broadside" to the camera, or at a right angle to it. Naturally, from this angle, the motion is greatest, and a shutter speed of at least 1/500 second is needed. But if you stood quite near the track, farther up, so that the horse was coming almost directly toward you, the motion would appear less rapid. From that angle, a shutter speed of 1/200 would yield a reasonably sharp picture, if you caught the horse at the peak of the jump.
Remember that rule: when the action is coming toward you, motion is less, and a slower shutter will serve. By proper choice of position therefore, you can overcome your handicap in many cases, and improve your percentage of successful pictures.
Here is another hint In many games and sports, there are momentary pauses. A player will halt to turn—yet still retain a good action pose for a split second. In these pauses, if you're alert, you can capture many a fine action shot.
So even if you have a slow camera, don't be discouraged. A model with fast shutter is best, but that will come in time....and meanwhile, if you're alert and seize your opportunities, you can garner plenty of worthwhile action pictures. ing, but even this ornamental dagger is barred. M.P's are taking no chances! xx
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.