Action Pics -- Camera Question

[ParNone]

I've been trying to get some action shots of Oz and I want
the background to be blurred and so far I haven't been
successful. Anybody had any luck getting this to work with a
digital camera? and if so, how'd you do it? oh and post your
action shots...







Par...

[primabella]

I know what you mean. The only ones I got out successfully were




Oz is looking great as always

[ParNone]

Hi prima!

I really like that shot of Mickey headed towards the camera.

I'd still really like to figure out how to blur the background
though. I've seen some really kewl pictures, where the
dog was perfectly in focus, in motion, and the background looked
really artistic, because it was blurred.

Par...

PS: notice the color of how grass is actually suppose to look

[primabella]

Originally posted by ParNone
PS: notice the color of how grass is actually suppose to look

Oh, shut-up! It's not MY fault the snow chooses to be super mean to OUR grass Hehe

[Cinder & Smoke]

A true *blurr* of the background,
with the main subject *sharp* and in focus -
happens when the camera is moved - to follow the Moving Subject. The difference in the fixed bacground and the Movement (or "panning") of the camera causes the background to *blurr*.

If the camera movement exactly matches the speed and direction of the subject (dawg)... the Dawg will appear frozen and sharp on a blurred background.

If the camera movement is slightly slower (or faster), or in a different direction than the dawg is moving; BOTH the subject Dawg AND the background will appear blurred, but to different degrees.

The effect is more pronounced if the subject and camera are moving left or right horizontally; the
effect is much less if the subject is moving toward or away from the camera.

Take LOTS of practice shots - digital "film" is nice and CHEAP!
Don't like the shot?
*Erase* it and shoot another!

[ramanth]

I know 400 speed 35mm film will give you the blurred background as long as you can keep up with the subject matter. (I shot some film of horses running in a corral for college)

Not sure how you'd achieve the same effect with a digi cam... I'd go with Phred's suggestion.

Love the pics of Oz and Mickey.

[Dakota's Mommy]

Great pics there, so cute!

[ParNone]

Thanks Phred! I'm gonna try it as soon as I get home tonight.
Course I'm not sure I'm coordinated to pull it off, but you're
right, that is the beauty of digital cameras... the wonderful lil'
erase button...

Hi Ramanth! I sometimes feel like I'm taking pictures of a horse,
where Oz is concerned.

Thanks Dakota's Mommy!

[ParNone]

Weeeeelllllll no luck so far. I tried it and I never really got the
type of blurring effect I was going for... and either everything
in the picture was slightly blurry or everything was in focus.

Here's some shots I got while experimenting:











Par...

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

Phred is right..

We went to the Petit Lemans race and I had to turn my head while the cars drove past to take a pic of the car without it being blurred... (seeing how they were traveling 200 mph)

and the cars turned out perfect and the background is a big blurr... so try moving your head/camera with the subject and the background should be blurred.

[Freckles]

You may need another person to call Oz so he'll run from left to right (or right to left) across in front of you. Running toward you won't work.

[ParNone]

Thanks Sara! I'm gonna keep trying. Were you using a digital
camera?

Hey Freckles! Actually I got a couple of chances to shoot him,
while he was going left to right and everytime, the shutter
was so slow after I pressed the button, that he was no longer
left to right by the time it actually took the shot. I'm gonna
have to play with the settings and see if I can get the shutter
to be faster. And another person calling him would definitely
help too.

Par...

[Cinder & Smoke]

Find a nice background -
maybe a tree, or bush, stone wall, wood fence...

FOCUS on a rock or leaf that's maybe 5-6 feet in front of the background (FOCUS on something CLOSER to you than the background...

Now raise the camera up so the background object is IN the viewfinder...

Now hold camera to face;
slowly pivot your whole body, face & camera from left to right...
Part way through your pivot,
*fire* the camera while you continue to pivot/rotate/turn.

See what ya got...
should be a nicely *blurred* background.
Now continue practicing with different SPEEDS of your body's turning/pivoting motion... the amount of *blurr* will be proportional to your turning/pivoting speed.

After you get *good* at blurring the background...
NOW get someone to stand to the side and call Oz - so he *runs* over you focus-on rock or leaf -
Oz runs parallel with the background - from your left to right (or right to left - whutevur!)...
Match the turning/pivoting speed of your face, camera & body to HIS speed - KEEP him *centered* in the viewfinder...
*Fire* the camera when he's directly in front of you - and continue aiming AT him - as you contiue to turn your head & camera, and the camera completes the shot.

Digital Delay - the eternity between when you *Klik da Kliker* an the stoopid camera sez "WHO, Me...? OH... TAKE da Picture??? NOW???? OK, *KLIK*"...

Remember Oz has to be running "across" - side to side - in Front of you - NOT "AT" you.

Did we mention - this requires *practice*??

[Cookiebaker]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke
Digital Delay - the eternity between when you *Klik da Kliker* an the stoopid camera sez "WHO, Me...? OH... TAKE da Picture??? NOW???? OK, *KLIK*"...

Oh my, Phred....you have such a way of putting things!!! Thanks for the much needed laugh tonight!!!

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

no.... i wasn't using a digital camera.. but I am sure it should make the same effect...

and OZ is beautiful as usual...