paintball action shots

[drumebskater]

i am looking for some advice for action shots for paintball
i am still learning everything about my camera so i dont know that much

what are some hints/tips/advice for taking good movement/action shots for paintball

my first few times i was mainly doing still shots, but last time out i really tried on more action shots like breakouts or dives, but most of them came out pretty out of focus

for my first breakout picture i thought this was pretty decent
http://i38.tinypic.com/ibck00.jpg

but for other things like this, i couldnt figure out how to get the focus right
http://i38.tinypic.com/2kg1gz.jpg


anyhelp?

[Robert_Lay]

You probably want to use AI Servo AF mode.

Read page 77 of your 40D Instruction Manual. If you don't have one, it can be downloaded from the Canon Web Site.

[zso]

Getting your pics in sharp focus would be a good start. I believe that there is a very good paintball photog on this forum. Take a look at his pics, that will give you something to aim for.

[mattograph]

The first shot is nice. Its telling a story.

My suggestion would be to start with what Robert is saying. Next, you need to dig into your lenses. I am not familiar with your glass, but you have two issues to consider there:

1) How fast can they focus? -- Not all autofocus lens work well for sports. They just can't focus quickly enough to keep up with the action. I am not familiar with your glass though, but you might read some reviews at some of the more recommended sites.

2) What IS mode is most applicable to your needs? Some IS lens can get downright uncooperative when shooting action, where you are moving the camera quite a bit. Some have a "panning" mode to compensate for that. Generally, though, at higher shutter speeds, you can just shut it down.

With that said, your second shot just looks like you were working with the wrong focus point.

My suggestion is to practice. Find someone to run around for you -- I use my kids. I have them run around the yard, and practice different things:

1) Tracking -- keeping the desired focus point on them through a series of shots (harder than it sounds)

2) Anticipating -- setting the camera focus on a predetermined point, and catching them as they come through it.

3) Panning -- working at low shutter speeds and moving with them to catch some cool action shots.

Its amazing how much better things will turn out with just a little practice.

Good luck!

[drumebskater]

The first shot is nice. Its telling a story.

My suggestion would be to start with what Robert is saying. Next, you need to dig into your lenses. I am not familiar with your glass, but you have two issues to consider there:

1) How fast can they focus? -- Not all autofocus lens work well for sports. They just can't focus quickly enough to keep up with the action. I am not familiar with your glass though, but you might read some reviews at some of the more recommended sites.

2) What IS mode is most applicable to your needs? Some IS lens can get downright uncooperative when shooting action, where you are moving the camera quite a bit. Some have a "panning" mode to compensate for that. Generally, though, at higher shutter speeds, you can just shut it down.

With that said, your second shot just looks like you were working with the wrong focus point.

My suggestion is to practice. Find someone to run around for you -- I use my kids. I have them run around the yard, and practice different things:

1) Tracking -- keeping the desired focus point on them through a series of shots (harder than it sounds)

2) Anticipating -- setting the camera focus on a predetermined point, and catching them as they come through it.

3) Panning -- working at low shutter speeds and moving with them to catch some cool action shots.

Its amazing how much better things will turn out with just a little practice.

Good luck!

thank you for the help
on that second shot, i anticipated where he was going and waited for him to run through the frame for me to take a shot, but it focused on the background instead of him
and i also, i was in AI Servo AF mode the whole time too