I asked a similar question for the night shot. For cameras that are purely automatic, is there a way to trick the camera into using a fast shutter speed? The max for my camera is 1/1000, which should be good for this challenge but.....I don't think I've ever taken a picture at that shutter speed! My aperture goes from 3.5 - 9.5, if I can manipulate this (ie focusing on an object far away w/the shutter half pressed and then taking a picture of something closer), can that affect the shutter speed as well? Thanks for any help.
I foresee a limited number of entries into this challenge. Those photographers who have cameras that do not offer shutter priority or fully manual modes may have a difficult time stopping the action. However, I can see some creative ways to capture 'stopped action' if one digs deeply into the creativity bin...
Langdon:
Most cameras that I have used in the past don't go to 1/1000 for a flash photo. My digital doesn't and my 35mm usually hits around 1/125 for a flash shot.
With flash, unless it is a forced flash on a sunny day, my camera always clocks in at 1/60. Gotta hope for some sun! Supposed to get a lot of rain this week = (
Originally posted by Maverick: I asked a similar question for the night shot. For cameras that are purely automatic, is there a way to trick the camera into using a fast shutter speed? The max for my camera is 1/1000, which should be good for this challenge but.....I don't think I've ever taken a picture at that shutter speed! My aperture goes from 3.5 - 9.5, if I can manipulate this (ie focusing on an object far away w/the shutter half pressed and then taking a picture of something closer), can that affect the shutter speed as well? Thanks for any help.
The more light there is, the faster your shutter speed, so open the aperture wide (if you can) and pick a bright day or bring plenty of your own light. Just watch out for overexposure. Defocusing will have no effect on shutter speed. One trick you could try in a pinch is to half press the shutter on a brightly lit area approximately the same distance away as your subject (use spot metering if you have it), then recompose on your subject and shoot (assuming that a half press makes an exposure lock as well as a focus lock). You may underexpose the result, but that's a lot easier to fix afterward than an overexposure. If you let us know exactly what controls you have available, I'm sure we can find the best answer for you. Have fun.
thanks irae, I will definitely try your advice, my camera only has 64 segment metering (I think it is unique to Fuji, but could be wrong), The only controls I have available in my "manual mode" is white balance (sun/cloudy/flourescent/incandescent/incandescent2 I think...), and exposure correction (+1.5, 1.2, 0.9, 0.6, 0.3, 0.0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9)
Another thought is to try changing your ISO if possible. I believe the higher ISO means faster action and thus less light and a faster shutter speed. Remember that higher ISOs make some digital cameras have grainy shots. You might be able to think of a shot that incorporates that into the style of the picture.
A few weeks ago someone (Langdon?) posted a site that contained specifications for most digital cameras. Could that person post that site again. Thanks.
Originally posted by JJart: A few weeks ago someone (Langdon?) posted a site that contained specifications for most digital cameras. Could that person post that site again. Thanks.
it was most likely dpreview.com .. this is by far the best resource for digital camera information.
Most cameras (digital and film) sync the flash at either 1/100th or 1/60th. The best way to stop the acton is a large apeture (i.e f2.8) and alot of light.
My uncle sent me a link to perhaps the ultmate stop-action photo: the sonic boom created by a fighter jet as it swoops in for a landing on an aircraft carrier.
There''s a complete explanation of how it happens and how it was done on the upper part of the page before you get to the photo. I think it done with film, but it''s still fascinating...
* This message has been edited by the author on 6/23/2002 2:26:26 AM.
That's a cool photo.. I have seen it before... I actually saw a modification of it where the photogrpaher put that in a scene with the golden gate bridge and claimed that he was standing there and made that photo... lol ;)
Originally posted by jmsetzler: That's a cool photo.. I have seen it before... I actually saw a modification of it where the photogrpaher put that in a scene with the golden gate bridge and claimed that he was standing there and made that photo... lol ;)
I've seen the Blue Angels flying around the Bay but they never came close to Mach 1 around here.
Here's another interesting example of stopped motion: ship trails in the ocean (NASA satellite photo). I forget the link to the explanatory page, but here's a copy of the photo.
