S3 Action Shots

[keithk42]

Hi,

My name's Keith. I have an S3 and and A620. I often check this forum to see pics taken with the cameras I have as well as look for helpful tips.

I just figured I'd share a couple of pics taken with my S3 recently at my son's dive competition.

I love the S3. It's fun to use and really takes nice pics.

100847

100848

Any thoughts or feedback on the pictures is welcome.

Thanks,
Keith

[backlot]

i find the lifeguards distracting

[Stefan A]

You did a good job capturing the action. But remember, that's only 1 part of the equation. Be sure to walk around various scenes to see where the best background and composition is. The lifeguards, flags, and the fence are distracting. Walking around, you may have discovered a background that wasn't as busy. Plus the camera angle/composition can help to avoid distractions.

[keithk42]

Thanks for the input. Those are things that I really hadn't considered.

Keith.

[Stefan A]

Yeah, often I spend so much time thinking about 1 aspect of a photograph, other problems never occured to me. Or maybe they were just things that I didn't care about. You will find that on this forum, when you ask for a critique, people don't hold back :).

Stefan

[bkstyl]

What Shutter speed did you use? The reason I ask is because both photos have motion blur, the first photo more than the second one. I would try upping the shutter speed to stop the motion better and the subject in the photo will be sharper/clear. I have never shot dive comp's before but I have shot a ton of baseball with my S2. I try to get shutter speeds of at least 1/1000 but I prefer 1/1600. I even sacrifice noise to get higher shutter speeds to stop motion. I bump the ISO 100 or 200 and use noise removal in post processing to fix any noise issues. Usually you can't even tell there was a noise.

[keithk42]

My shutter speed was at 640 I think. I had to go up to ISO 200 at one point because a shadow had crept in.

Are you in bright light when shooting at 1000 or 1600? If not, how do you keep the picture light enough? Do you use ISO 400 on your S2?

There are often times I would like to increase my shutter speed, but am deterred by the darkness of the picture or fear of raising the ISO too high and getting shots that are too noisy.

I did download Noiseware community edition, but haven't messed around with it much. I haven't had much luck removing noise from pictures.

I really appreciate all the feedback.

Thanks,
Keith

[TMR Design]

I bump the ISO 100 or 200 and use noise removal in post processing to fix any noise issues. Usually you can't even tell there was a noise.

What program are you using and what toolr or filters do you use to remove noise. I am a well versed PhotoShop user and would love to know so I can use AS400 at times.

[bkstyl]

What program are you using and what toolr or filters do you use to remove noise. I am a well versed PhotoShop user and would love to know so I can use AS400 at times.

I use the noise removal software that comes with Paint Shop Pro X or Neat Image. Generally I try not to go over 200 ISO. I have used 400 ISO with PSPx or Neat Image with only fair results. I could tell there was noise.

[bkstyl]

My shutter speed was at 640 I think. I had to go up to ISO 200 at one point because a shadow had crept in.

Are you in bright light when shooting at 1000 or 1600? If not, how do you keep the picture light enough? Do you use ISO 400 on your S2?

For the most part I have pretty decent light. Most games begin around 6:05 or 6:35. So I have good enough light to get 1000 or 1600. Generally I start at ISO 100 and move up to 200 if I need too. I try not to shoot at 400 ISO but I have used it. When I don't have enough light I turn off the camera and enjoy the game.

There are often times I would like to increase my shutter speed, but am deterred by the darkness of the picture or fear of raising the ISO too high and getting shots that are too noisy.

I did download Noiseware community edition, but haven't messed around with it much. I haven't had much luck removing noise from pictures.

Download a free copy of Neat Image and try that. I have never tried Noiseware. Neat Image works well and PSPX has pretty decent noise removal software.

I really appreciate all the feedback.

Thanks,
Keith

Keith,

Here is a link to my baseball photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27332811@N00/

All the photos were taken with my S2. I have used 1/640 and 1/800 to get some shots but most of the shots on this page were at 1000 or 1600. Page 3, the photo of "Bowie Baysox" is an example of ISO 400. I really did not care for how it turned out but I had to get a photo of his throwing motion.

This was taken at 400 ISO and run through Neat Image. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27332811@N00/142978313/
I printed this as an 8X10 and it turned out pretty nice. Not as nice as the bright light photos but nice enough as a large print.

[keithk42]

bkstyl

Those baseball shots look awesome. Aside from the ISOs that you mentioned what are your other settings and what mode are you using?

Keith