How to prepare for a spontaneous shot?

[ednorm]

This is my first cousins boy about to learn a lesson about teasing the girls. I know I cut off their feet, I am asking if there is an all purpose setting to use for quick shots like this that will stop motion and compensate for changing light, the sun was bright and then covered as clouds were blowing by in a typical Chicago day.



Exif stuff
Camera Canon EOS 7D
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
Lens Type Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

ed

[IABoomer]

I'd think on a 7D you should be able to bump the ISO up two or three stops (400-800) without inducing much noise. This would let you bring the shutter speed down to a point where you could freeze the quick-moving kids. If you're not comfortable with full-manual, maybe shutter priority (Tv on Canons) at somewhere around 1/200-1/320 of a second and let the camera handle the aperture, which will probably open wide.

[Laurenbiz]

An ISO of 100 and a shutter of 1/80 - with a moving subject - is an ISO/Exposure combination sure to create blur.

I would agree with bumping the ISO to at least 400, as well as using a faster shutter speed to capture movement.

I hate to insuinate this, but by the looks of this photo, it looks as though you were moving. I understand that the boy is blurred - and he is in a bodily stance suggesting that he was moving. The two girls in the center, though, seem like they are in a stationary position, and for them to appear blurry may be due to camera shake.

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by Laurenbiz

An ISO of 100 and a shutter of 1/80 - with a moving subject - is an ISO/Exposure combination sure to create blur.

I would agree with bumping the ISO to at least 400, as well as using a faster shutter speed to capture movement.

I hate to insuinate this, but by the looks of this photo, it looks as though you were moving. I understand that the boy is blurred - and he is in a bodily stance suggesting that he was moving. The two girls in the center, though, seem like they are in a stationary position, and for them to appear blurry may be due to camera shake.

Although if you look at the tree at the right of the frame, it looks clean, at least in the size posted here, which would suggest that it's not camera movement, but the kids.

[Laurenbiz]

I'm a bozo and I have to admit that I didn't even look at the tree.

Okay, I retract.

[kristenh]

well, there's certainly an all purpose setting; its called auto mode. or turn your dial to the little picture of kids and pets.

but maybe the thing to do is to go to shutter priority if you really don't have time to think. you could set it to like 1/250 with moving kids and let the camera make the other changes.

my main critique here other than the focus is that you are looking down on the kids and i think it would have been more engaging had you been at their eye level. cute idea, though.

[ednorm]

Thanks for the feedback, I was setting up in a gazebo talking with my cousin during a backyard party. I was watching little john paul torture these girls, throwing grass in their hair, pushing them, you know the basic boy trying to impress the girl stuff. The girls were watching the adults waiting for a chance to pummel him, I look away and they cornered him and a moment later he was laying on the ground wondering what he did wrong. i hoped the shot, which I had to turn real quick to get, would have come out better, the setting on the camera was actually from a shot I had taken earlier of the cake, I did not have the time to change it. I have a ton of problems when I shoot outside, makes me appreciate the pros.

ed