joedlh
17th of September 2009 (Thu), 16:18
Four years running, I have tried to get a good jousting shot at the NY Renaissance Faire (http://www.renfair.com/NY/). This year, I was more analytical about the problems that make this a really, really hard shot to get. Here's my list. Feel free to add.
1.Light, in a fast action situation. The joust is often at the end of the day. In mid-September, the light is failing in NY at 6:00 pm. This year, it was also cloudy. Add in the factor of speedy subjects – two of them, in opposite directions – and the need for enough depth of field so that they are both in focus. The trade-off between high ISO and noise rears it's ugly head. I shot these at ISO 640 with a 40D and F/2.8 80-200 IS.
2.Background. There's always somebody in the background. It's not easy to throw them out of focus because you have two knights and their horses charging at each other, often at an oblique angle. There are generally parts of the field that have less busy backgrounds. Just try to get the knights to encounter each other at that exact point. It'll never happen. If you're lucky, the audience will be in period costume and not consist of (1) a, um, weight-challenged guy sitting spread-eagle in Bermuda shorts or (2) another photographer aiming right in your direction.
3.Point of impact I. This is the key moment to catch. You can predict that it will occur somewhere on the field between the starting positions of the knights; the exact point will be a mystery until it happens. So all you photographers out there who insist that full manual is the only way to take pictures? You may as well stay home.
4.Point of impact II. It's a focus nightmare. It can be easier if you get a side shot. This relies on you finding yourself adjacent to the actual point of impact (see previous point). This shot will be elongated because of the horses. Furthermore, you will see the helmeted heads in profile, which is not usually desirable. With a ¾ shot, you can get one of the knights fairly face on. However, you'd better dang well get him in sharp focus. The other knight will have his back to you. If you have a narrow depth of field because of a poor background and/or low light, he will be out of focus. This is not always a bad thing as it can contribute to the sense of motion.
5.Point of impact, part III. It would be ideal to have splintered shards of lances arcing through the air. This of course relies on the knights actually making contact. It's not a given.
http://photo.joedlh.net/Images/RenFaire2009/700s/NY_Renaissance_Faire_2009_MG_0137.jpg
6.Horses. You'd think that the horse would do more, wouldn't you? There are two factors here. It would be nice to get both of their heads. The second is their pesky legs. If you freeze the motion of a horse in full gallop, the individual phases will range from “Wow, that horse is pumping!” to “quietly sauntering in the meadow.” Yes, even at full gallop. Of course you want the pumping not the sauntering shot. Try to get it with not one but two horses.
7.Okay, this is trivial, but it would be good if the lances, which are rigged to break into shards, were straight and held level by the knights. A sagging lance conveys low energy. I admit that this is a rather Freudian observation, but that's the way it is.
Strategy: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture set to suit the light conditions and the quality of the background.
Telephoto zoom lens. You will be far from the action and often can't be picky about your spot.
AI Focus, of course. Pick a knight whom you want to be in focus – the one facing you. Select one of the side focal points and peg him with it. Do not use the central point: remember that there will be another knight on the other side of the image when you take that crucial shot.
Burst mode as high as you can get it.
Track your knight. If you can, use your non-eyepiece eye to track the other knight so that you can anticipate when he will enter the frame. Start shooting at the moment the tip of his lance does so.
Pray.
http://photo.joedlh.net/Images/RenFaire2009/700s/NY_Renaissance_Faire_2009_MG_0249.jpg
1.Light, in a fast action situation. The joust is often at the end of the day. In mid-September, the light is failing in NY at 6:00 pm. This year, it was also cloudy. Add in the factor of speedy subjects – two of them, in opposite directions – and the need for enough depth of field so that they are both in focus. The trade-off between high ISO and noise rears it's ugly head. I shot these at ISO 640 with a 40D and F/2.8 80-200 IS.
2.Background. There's always somebody in the background. It's not easy to throw them out of focus because you have two knights and their horses charging at each other, often at an oblique angle. There are generally parts of the field that have less busy backgrounds. Just try to get the knights to encounter each other at that exact point. It'll never happen. If you're lucky, the audience will be in period costume and not consist of (1) a, um, weight-challenged guy sitting spread-eagle in Bermuda shorts or (2) another photographer aiming right in your direction.
3.Point of impact I. This is the key moment to catch. You can predict that it will occur somewhere on the field between the starting positions of the knights; the exact point will be a mystery until it happens. So all you photographers out there who insist that full manual is the only way to take pictures? You may as well stay home.
4.Point of impact II. It's a focus nightmare. It can be easier if you get a side shot. This relies on you finding yourself adjacent to the actual point of impact (see previous point). This shot will be elongated because of the horses. Furthermore, you will see the helmeted heads in profile, which is not usually desirable. With a ¾ shot, you can get one of the knights fairly face on. However, you'd better dang well get him in sharp focus. The other knight will have his back to you. If you have a narrow depth of field because of a poor background and/or low light, he will be out of focus. This is not always a bad thing as it can contribute to the sense of motion.
5.Point of impact, part III. It would be ideal to have splintered shards of lances arcing through the air. This of course relies on the knights actually making contact. It's not a given.
http://photo.joedlh.net/Images/RenFaire2009/700s/NY_Renaissance_Faire_2009_MG_0137.jpg
6.Horses. You'd think that the horse would do more, wouldn't you? There are two factors here. It would be nice to get both of their heads. The second is their pesky legs. If you freeze the motion of a horse in full gallop, the individual phases will range from “Wow, that horse is pumping!” to “quietly sauntering in the meadow.” Yes, even at full gallop. Of course you want the pumping not the sauntering shot. Try to get it with not one but two horses.
7.Okay, this is trivial, but it would be good if the lances, which are rigged to break into shards, were straight and held level by the knights. A sagging lance conveys low energy. I admit that this is a rather Freudian observation, but that's the way it is.
Strategy: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture set to suit the light conditions and the quality of the background.
Telephoto zoom lens. You will be far from the action and often can't be picky about your spot.
AI Focus, of course. Pick a knight whom you want to be in focus – the one facing you. Select one of the side focal points and peg him with it. Do not use the central point: remember that there will be another knight on the other side of the image when you take that crucial shot.
Burst mode as high as you can get it.
Track your knight. If you can, use your non-eyepiece eye to track the other knight so that you can anticipate when he will enter the frame. Start shooting at the moment the tip of his lance does so.
Pray.
http://photo.joedlh.net/Images/RenFaire2009/700s/NY_Renaissance_Faire_2009_MG_0249.jpg