Capturing the action of fast-moving subjects is the goal of sports and wildlife photographers. Challenges can include getting a sharp shot, finding the best exposure, capturing a dramatic gesture, having a nice background, and more. In this article, I’ll offer some tips for photographing subjects moving at high speeds. To illustrate my points, I’ll share some of my favorite action shots from a recent horse photography shoot. These were taken at sunrise and sunset in St. Augustine, Florida. All the photographs were captured with my Canon EOS R3 and Canon RF24-105mm IS lens.
Shoot at the Highest Frame Rate
The image that opens this article illustrates what happens when many of the elements that go into the making a good action shot come together. This includes the all-important gesture of the subject. Both subjects look elegant and confident, and the position of the horse’s legs is flattering. The sweeping motion of the rider’s dress also adds to the success of the photograph.
Cameras with a high frame rate help to capture subtle differences in gesture. This can change in a fraction of a second. The higher the frame rate, the better chance you have of capturing the perfect gesture.
Shooting at a high frame rate means capturing, and then downloading, a lot of images. It’s important to be prepared. I use Delkin Devices CFast cards to record my images. On site, I use Delkin Devices CFast card readers to transfer my images — via my MacBook Pro — to my two Delkin Devices Juggler hard drives.
Take the Wide Shots
Our goal as photographers is to tell a story. You want to tell the story of the fast-moving horse and rider but if you shoot too tight, your photograph will not have what is called “a sense of place.” Using a wide-angle lens and composing your photograph with the subject relatively small in the frame will help you tell more of the story.
Note Your Camera Settings
Your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO are all important when trying to capture the action. This is especially true because your subject will be positioned against different backgrounds (perhaps light and dark) as it moves. The light level can change during your shoot, especially when photographing at sunrise and sunset. This is a lot to think about. To get the photo you want, you need to keep an eye on your camera settings as you may need to adjust them during a shoot.
Here are my camera settings for this image (with my lens set at the 24mm setting):
- ISO 800 – The horse and rider were moving fast. In that light level, I needed the ISO 800 setting to get a shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second. Several minutes before I took this shot, when the sun was still below the horizon line, I set my ISO at 6400 to get a sharp shot with a fast shutter speed. As the sun was just about to peek over the horizon, I set my ISO to 4000 to get a sharp shot with a fast shutter speed. The idea here is to keep lowering your ISO as the light level increases. This will allow you to get the cleanest possible image. Yes, you can use Auto ISO but I like to set the ISO manually, so I always know what ISO setting at which I am shooting.
- f/9 – I wanted some of the water that was surrounding the horse to be in focus, so I set a relatively small aperture.
- 1/2000th second – Because speed is exaggerated at close distances, I needed that fast shutter speed to stop the action.
- EV -0.33 – I slightly underexposed the scene to preserve the highlights, especially in the splashing water.
Set a Goal
In life, it’s important to set goals. That’s true in our photography, too. For example, when I was photographing the horses and riders on the beach, one of my main goals was to get a shot of a horse with all its hooves off the ground. Setting that goal helped me get the shot.
To reach that goal, I set my camera to the highest frame rate, chose a fast shutter speed, and used AI Servo focus (focus tracking). This tracks the subject right up to the moment of exposure.
Speaking of focusing, there is also Animal Tracking which monitors the movement of the subject within a frame. You can find the Animal Tracking feature on the Canon EOS R3, as well as the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6.
Capture the Peak of Action
Do want to make an image with impact? Try to capture the peak of action. In scrolling through your images, compare the shots before and after the peak of action. In most cases, I think you’ll choose your peak of action shot.
Here, too, shooting at a high frame rate will help you achieve your goal. Be sure your exposure is also set properly.
Leaving Running Room
When composing an action shot, leave room in the frame where the subject can move. If the subject is too close to edge of the frame, it will get “stuck” and have nowhere to move. Notice how the open space in front of the rider works in this photo.
Hope for Good Light
Great light helps to make a great photograph. But, as we know, the light on site is not always great. If possible, set aside a few days for a serious photo session. The more time you spend on site, the better chance you have of getting good light.
For example, all the photographs in this article were taken on the first two days of my four-day trip to St. Augustine, Florida. The sky was dull and gray during the last two days.
In closing, I hope you have fun trying to capture the fast-paced action of horse photography. Good photo technique, along with good light, are the secret ingredients for successful, eye-catching images.
