How To Photograph A Jump?

[MeiTeng]

I am interested in photographing people doing jumps. Can't seem to find any resources on how to shoot someone doing a jump. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

[Gaurav Prabhu]

I most often shoot them by setting a high shutter speed(1/250), choosing a narrow aperture & focussing on the spot where they will be jumping. Framing can be done either vertically or horizontally. I mostly use vertical as it looks better for me than horizontal.

[MeiTeng]

Thanks for the tips. Will try that sometime soon. Guess...I'll have to be prepared with getting tired by the umpteenth jumps!

[Niresangwa]

just remember the faster the shutter speed you use, the more light you're going to need. using a deep DoF and manual focus roughly at the distance the subject is will ensure your camera doesnt putz around trying to lock its focus...

[JF808]

strobist or no? simply ensure you have a fast enough shutter speed. shooting from a lower vantage point works too. I'll shoot it vertical if i'm dealing with 2 people or less. the key to this shot is to make sure you tell your subjects to bend knees while in the air, it make it appear your subjects are jumping high. Pre focus works, nothing wrong with that, prefocus then leave your lens on manual and click away. I use flash so I balance the light, while shooting in manual, underexpose and let my flash take care of the subject exposure

[kencaleno]

Try to freeze action at the top of the jump-use continous shooting and continuous focus.

[MeiTeng]

Thanks guys for your feedback. I will try shooting soon.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Try to freeze action at the top of the jump-use continous shooting and continuous focus.

That's actually the opposite of what most people would suggest. Trap (zone) focus using manual focus, but with continuous shooting.

Depending on the subject, lens choice might be important too. I've been asked to do some snowboarders this coming winter, and you can be sure i'll have my ultrawide on so that I can get the most shots all at once. If i were doing just one person jumping up and down, though, then a tighter focal length would work better.

[sk66]

DSLR? Nikon or Canon?
With Nikon I'd use trap focus/release with a high shutter speed and moderate/deep DOF.

[crockny]

OK I give - what's trap or zone focus? If you prefocus what are you focussing on? Are you just guessing at the distance? Be gentle - I'm new ...