Need help with action shots of my kid...

New here, great site with tons of info!

I bought our son a little "dune buggy" for his birthday and tried getting some action shots but I am soooo new to this I dont know what settings to use. I messed around with the settings and probably took 100 shots and only a few came out that are somewhat decent. I want to get some better shots but I need some advice please! Remember I am new, so if you could suggest some settings and modes that would be great.

Canon Rebel XS18-55 IS stock form.

Try slowing down the shutter speed and panning. Maybe at 1/30 or slower at his level while he is going past you. Keep the camera following him even though you push the button and can't see him.

"...took 100 shots and only a few came out that are somewhat decent."

What was the problem with the others?

Not something technical but try going down to eye level.

also not technical, but try taking some portraits (instead of landscapes like the ones you posted above.)

on the technical side: in these photos, how was your aperture set? i would set it as wide as possible (so that means the lowest number--probably a 5.0 if you have the 18-55 lens kit. it's counter-intuitive.) the wider you set your aperture, the more light is coming in, which means that you're going to need a faster shutter speed to avoid overexposure (everything looking very white.) if you're outside in the sunshine again with him, try putting the camera on Av mode. set the aperture to 5.0 and let your camera pick the shutter speed.

although for the record, the pictures you posted weren't bad!

Thanks for the tips and help! Ill have to mess around with it more and post some updated shots.

Try squatting and getting lower to the ground

Also try cropping tighter.

And a lens upgrade would help.

How about a close up? Use the lens at 18mm. Set the camera mode on AV and adjust the aperture to f/8. Depending on the amount of daylight, you may have to increase the ISO to 400 or so. Hold the camera in portrait orientation. Get low...somewhere near the front wheel. Aim the camera up towards your son and fire away.

I'll be waiting for pics.
Good luck.
Mike

Here's an example shot at 21mm.