Freezing Motion

Freezing Action

When photographing sports, wildlife, or other fast-moving subjects, use a high shutter speed to freeze the action. For example, to capture a bird in flight or a child running, set your shutter speed to 1/1000s or higher.

Exercise: Freezing Motion with Fast Shutter Speeds

Objective: Capture a sharp, well-exposed image of a person jumping, freezing the motion in mid-air.

Steps:

1. Find Your Location: Choose an open area with plenty of natural light. A park or a sports field works well.
2. Set Up Your Camera:
   • Switch to Shutter Priority mode (S or Tv).
   • Set your shutter speed to 1/500s or faster. Start with 1/1000s if the lighting allows.
   • Set your ISO to a low setting, such as ISO 100 or 200. Increase the ISO only if the images are too dark.
3. Prepare Your Subject:
   • Ask your friend to perform a jump, such as a leap or a jump with raised arms.
   • Position yourself at a distance where you can capture the entire jump within the frame.
4. Compose Your Shot:
   • Frame the shot to include the entire jump, leaving some space above and below the jumper.
   • Use continuous autofocus (AF-C) mode to keep your friend in focus throughout the jump.
5. Take the Shot:
   • Focus on your friend before they jump.
   • Ask them to jump on your count (e.g., “1, 2, 3, jump!”).
   • Press and hold the shutter button just before they jump to capture a series of shots.
6. Review and Adjust:
   • Check your images on the LCD screen.
   • Ensure the motion is frozen and the subject is sharp.
   • If the images are blurry, increase the shutter speed or improve focus.