Advice for Shooting Track?

[nicshow]

I've been trying to shoot my daughter's running events in Jr/Sr Hi track. I'm making SOME progress but still struggling. Specifically, I'm struggling with focus. Can someone who has achieved some success give me some pointers on setting focus? I've been using servo mode. I tried letting the camera pick the focus today without much success.

I'll appreciate any wisdom you might be able to share!

Thanks,

Nic

[nicshow]

Nobody willing to offer some advice?

[Eagle]

aI sERVO WORKS BEST WHEN THE SUBJECT(damn caps) is moving from one side to the other, not coming towards you.
I haven't shot any track events myself so I'm just guessing but I would shot like she was a vehicle and get where she would be running past you and pan with her as she goes by. Watch her the whole way through the viewfinder. Make sure your using a fast shutter speed, boost the ISO if you have to. I would use center point focus only.

[Eagle]

What events does she run? Way back when I was in high school I ran the 440, 880, 1 mile relay, all this was before we went from yards to meters here for the distances.

[ScottE]

If I am having trouble with AF on AI Servo I switch to just the centre AF point and work at keeping that on the key runner, probably your daughter. Make sure the centre AF point is on your subject when you first touch the shutter button (or the * button if you have assigned AF to that). Watch the focus on the viewfinder and if it does not jump into sharp focus immediately, release the shutter (or *) button and press it again to try and refocus. There is no point continuing to track focus if it did not get it right at the start. Use a wide enough lens that you can crop the image for composition because this technique means you will take the shot with the subject centred.

[PhotosGuy]

Sometimes it helps to wake AF up? 1/2 press the shutter button & rack the MF to shift focus. The cam will pull focus back & AF seems to wake up. These were with the 300D.
Radio Controlled Boats (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=101101)

[scattashot]

you have two options
1 find a spot on the track prefocus on that spot switch to manual focus and simply shoot when the subjects comes into the predetermined spot. very effcient when your daughter is running towards you.

2) set your camera to center focus only identify a spot that you will take your shot. set camera to continuous shooting and pan while shooting when your daughter comes into the frame. nb pan means move the camera relative to the persons running. this is useful when you are 90 deg from the track.

in any event high shutter speed low aperture to blur the background using depth of field. make sure you check your exposure

[DwightMcCann]

Spend some time in the Sharing: Sports forum during Track & Field season and ask questions of the guys you see who get the kind of images you want. Or go search to Track picture threads, read them and then ask questions.