The quest for great action shots (Pics)

A week or so ago I got particularly caught up in trying to get good action shots. I've always particularly enjoyed trying to get action shots, there's something so exciting about getting a good one, and it is quite a challenge. It's certainly not the easiest thing to do! Most pics are at least a little fuzzy, it's hard to get perfectly crisp focus in a fast moving action shot. A very great number of the pics turn out like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...issedshot1.jpg

or this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...issedshot3.jpg

or even this :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...issedshot2.jpg

It's awfully hard to hit that trigger at the exact instant they are flying in front of the lens. This next one is a missed shot because I had the zoom in too far, although I still love how it shows Tasha's body in full flight mode:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/07b2284c.jpg

I was SO VERY disappointed that I didn't get her head in it.

I got more of Tasha because she runs constantly. Tommy runs for shorter bursts (and it seems like that is often when I don't have the camera up to my face and focused). Also Tommy just has to have something in his mouth, in this case it's a miniature white pumpkin we got out of the garden a couple weeks ago. These were taken on various days so some are sunny and some cloudy. Anyway, on to the pics!

Tasha's pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/62046173.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/fc4d7fc0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/0033903e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/b94b1780.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/5ce3ce2c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/f688e754.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ed/oct1508.jpg

(more next post)

I love these next two in particular, the first one because she is truly in turbo-speed mode. Almost every pic I've gotten of her running, she is not really running at top speed, it's very hard to catch her at top speed, but in this one she is truly hauling butt :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/5d27f472.jpg

And this one she just looks adorable. She still had her harness on from our walk:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/bc729ab5.jpg

Now for Tommy's:

This first one isn't truly an action shot, but he is trotting in it. I thought he looked cute parading about with his pumpkin.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/55fd5e09.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/d2929a2b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/81641f51.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ed/oct1503.jpg

And my absolute favorite of him:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/5bc98306.jpg


Hope you all enjoyed. These pics are the final results of HUNDREDS of attempts ;)

those are wonderful! I love your dog's photos! action shots are really difficult. i am much better with my 35mm than i am with a digital.

Great pictures! I love your pups, I thought all of Tasha's were great and my favourite of Tommy was the one before the last one:D

Well, I think your quest was successful!! Tasha and Tommy looked great and like they were having a blast! Good to see those babies! My absolute favorite is Tommy prancing with his pumpkin! What a happy boy! :D

Those were great pictures, Jess! I know what you mean, it is VERY difficult to get action shots, I have had many shots look like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...issedshot2.jpg :)

The ones you posted here turned out great, I love them all, especially Tommy carrying his mini pumpkin!!:D

Wow!!! What awesome shots!!! Great job, Jess:) The ones of Tasha are breathtaking! And what a laugh I got with Tommy's pumpkin shot. It looks like he's sporting false teeth:D:D:D Thanks for the smiles:)

Great shots, my action shots come out crummy. :)

I LOVE the very last picture of Tommy!! :D He looks so elegant and majestic. :)

Tasha's a doll!! :D

Great pictures!! I know it's not easy taking action shots!

They are so adorable, she looks like a Kangaroo! :D

Those are great!! :D Looks like they were having a blast.

Wow! You bet I enjoyed! I always love your action shots. You seem to always capture some good ones. Its funny that you posted this. I was trying to take a few action shots today also. No such luck though. I caught a few moments but they came out blurry. I'll keep trying though. Anna and I were just talking earlier today about how hard it is to capture the furkids in action. I've probably asked before, but what kind of camera are you using?

Now, about your furkids...absolutely beautiful! Both of them are just breath taking in those pics. Please give them a big hug and kiss from me.

I'm attaching one of my action shots of Katie from today. I let her run and play today and she was having a blast. Its blurry but I still like it. I think she is quite stunning ;) Hopefully someday I'll be able to get some good ones like you ;) :p

Robin :)

Awwww! Those are great!

I love the one with Tommy parading around with his pumpkin LOL. What a silly boy. Those are some great action shots of Tasha, too. :D

Cute pics, Jess!

Awesome shots!
I actually really like the first one, I don't know why.
That Tasha is just too awesome. I may need to steal her. ;)
Tommy is cute too, of course! :) I could see Nala or Kiara having fun with a pumpkin too lol

Those are great pics! I loved them! I know Major would have ate the pumpkin lol.:p

guster girl, I think you're right about it actually being harder with a digi, because of the sensitive autofocus. When I'm lucky enough to get a good shot with the digi though I'm always thrilled at how nice it looks.

Orangutango I think Tasha always looks particularly good in action shots cause she just looks like she's built for speed (which she is!), and her face is always lit up with such joy :)

shutterbug, I really love that picture too, it turned out just perfect, I think Tasha was behind me and he was prancing towards her in play :)

Karen/Holly's Mom, you wouldn't believe how many shots of empty grass/yard I got, LOL. I finally thought to myself "when I post these I should just go ahead and show them how most of the pics REALLy looked" :p

Sandra I was ROFL at the false teeth analogy, I looked back at them and it does look like that, so funny! I never even thought of that :D

Karen/KYS, most of mine turn out crummy too, I'm just extremely persistent... or is it stubborn, till I luck out and get some good ones :D The dogs wear out before I give up, thus these are the result of about a week's worth of shooting off and on :)

Di, I'm always particularly impressed with your action shots of Sesh, you do a nice job too!

senorita, She does kind of doesn't she? Especially in the second one where she really has her front legs drawn up :)

manda_moo, they loved it, the weather was getting cooler and their energy levels have been up!

Robin, I think that one looks pretty good! The VAST bulk of mine are at least that blurry, I think the few I get that are pretty clear are mostly luck. I've tried actual different settings and methods with my camera and I seem to get about the same luck no matter what I do. My camera is a Sony Cybershot, it's about 2-3 years old now and has been a great camera. It has never broken on me even though it's been dropped and banged around a few times. :)

Julie, he looks so proud of himself doesn't he? He can really run easier with the pumpkin than he can with those big logs, he always ends up dropping those when he tries to run too fast with them :p

Kay, I like that one too (assuming you meant the first one of a complete dog :D), I got it pretty close up and she has such a happy smile on her face.

Maria, Tasha would probably gnaw it up too, and I suppose Tommy would if he had it long enough, but when he's outside he's content to mostly just carry things. He will carry around apples too like that in the fall, Tasha just eats them.

I also forgot to add a couple of them together, Again they are a little fuzzy but still cute

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/98705332.jpg

And I really like this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/96f54517.jpg


Thanks again everyone!

Very nice photos! I know how hard it is to capture action shots, it's something I've tried many times as well! I love the lean, made-for-speed look of Tasha and the way Tommy's fur flows as he runs!

Ohhhhh, I'm so glad I checked back in and got to see more of your gorgeous pups!

Thanks for the camera info. So if you were to upgrade your camera would you consider going with a Sony again? I am wanting a new camera so bad. Not that I really need one I just would love to have more pixels and video with sound ;)

Thanks...Robin :)

Thank you Amy :)

Quote:

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So if you were to upgrade your camera would you consider going with a Sony again?

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I'd most definitely want to go with Sony when it comes time for a new camera. Actually Popcornbird just recently got a newer version of my camera, and you saw the pics and video she just put up of her tiels I think. Very nice, vivid quality :) Like I said, mine has really held up well too, I'd never make it with something that broke down easily :p I think ChristiansMommy also has the exact same model camera that I do.

Aww....those are great!!!!!!!! :D :D I don't know how Heidi's action shots turned out cause I haven't got the film back. I hope they turn out good though, she moves too darn fast! :p :rolleyes: I see you have that problem with yours too! :o

what fantastic shots!!!!!!

Well, I thought I was in love before, now I really am! Those are some very special pics. I wish I had a fenced in yard so I could have gotten Duke running like that. Now he's so old, he hardly ever does it any more. Anyway, Tommy is so cute prancing with his pumpkin and Tasha has just stolen my heart all over again. You're next on my list to visit. Going to Ohio in November. Can't wait!! Give them both big hugs from me. By the way, you could always bring them down here :p

Ugh I know what you mean about missing nice action shots. I get hundreds of the first few you posted, hehe. :p

But your pictures really came out great. I especially love this one, just because of the way her body is outlined. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/f688e754.jpg

Great pictures! :D

Quote:

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Originally posted by K9soul




I'd most definitely want to go with Sony when it comes time for a new camera. Actually Popcornbird just recently got a newer version of my camera, and you saw the pics and video she just put up of her tiels I think. Very nice, vivid quality :) Like I said, mine has really held up well too, I'd never make it with something that broke down easily :p I think ChristiansMommy also has the exact same model camera that I do.

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Beautiful pics!!! I know it can be hard to get action shots, but it always feels sooo good when you get a nice one. You did a great job!

Robin, Jessica's right....I recently got a Sony Cybershot DSC-P8. Its basically the newer version of Jessica's camera, and I really love it. I had a Sony before for about 4 years and had great experience with it, so I had to upgrade to a Sony again. We did look at the Canon's, Olympus', Fuji's, and other brands before purchasing it, but in the end, Sony was what we wanted again. Not only is it an excellent camera, but its also much smaller in size than most other brands that compare with it. I like its compact size.

Cute pictures...my action shots usually end up like the first couple you posted...1/2 dogs, or all grass :)

Quote:

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d/5bc98306.jpg


Hope you all enjoyed. These pics are the final results of HUNDREDS of attempts ;) [/B]

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Those are excellant Jess! I love this one also!!
All the ones of Tasha are gorgeous of course!!
I just love your 2, the remind me so much of the dogs close to my heart.