Calling all action photographers!

[APhotoSchool]

What type of action do you like to shoot, and what would you like to learn about action photography? I'm planning on writing some articles for DPS and wanted to see what people were interested in learning!

[karen_s]

I take photos of my dogs in action. I took what I learned shooting sports and applied it to taking photos of my crazy dogs, but I am most certainly still learning.

Here is what I struggle with ...

1. Long lenses and keeping the action in the viewfinder at fairly close range. (I epic fail at this when trying to get photos of birds in action.) I know I know, practice. But, maybe there is a technique I don't know about. I'm all ears.

2. Using flash. I'm fairly new to flash but know it could really help me in a lot of situations, indoors and out. (I'll post a photo of one situation if it will help you see what I'm talking about.)

3. Some lens help. I have some nice longer lenses but my short range, I'm not so thrilled with. Any direction there with some (Canon) wide angle glass for action would be most appreciated.

By the way, I like your blog and look forward to your articles here on DPS.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by karen_s

1. Long lenses and keeping the action in the viewfinder at fairly close range. (I epic fail at this when trying to get photos of birds in action.) I know I know, practice. But, maybe there is a technique I don't know about. I'm all ears.

Shoot with both eyes open.

ultrawide: EF-S 10-22.

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by inkista

Shoot with both eyes open.

ultrawide: EF-S 10-22.

See, I knew I was missing something. Do you take PayPal?

And thanks for the lens recommendation. Can you by chance recommend a wide EF? I'm considering adding a full frame at some point and not sure how much more I want to invest in the EF-S line. (I admit, I am lusting after the not quite yet available camera body known as the 5d Mark III. I would happily take a re-furbed 5d II though, just haven't had the luck of catching an available one.)

[inkista]

If you want ultrawide, I'd say go for an EF-S/crop lens, and then AFTER you get the 5D mark-whatever, sell the thing and save up for your full-frame ultrawide. There is only one lens that could serve as ultrawide on BOTH and it's an f/4-5.6 lens, the Sigma 12-24. Image quality is... well, what it is. The other candidate, aside from the Canon 10-22 is the Tokina 11-16/2.8. But all the ultrawides you see, except for the Sigma are made to cover crop sensors. While most will physically mount onto a full frame, they will exhibit vignetting.

It's only on a crop body that your'e going to be able to find a decent $600 ultrawide option. When you go to full frame the prices jump up into four figures and they are NOT going to be ultrawide on a crop. Your only exceptions to this, pricewise, are likely the 17-40L, and the Samyang 14/2.8.