10 Top Tips for better Running Pictures

1. Pick a position where there is plenty of light and, if the sun is out, try and get it shining into the runner’s face. Not from the side and not shining into the camera lens.

2. Set the camera to Aperture Priority (Av) and set to the lowest F number possible. This will give you the widest aperture to let in the maximum amount of light. Some lenses will go down to F1.4 others won’t go lower than about F6 on full zoom. Note: the larger the aperture (smallest F number), the less depth of field in focus.

3. Set the ISO to the lowest setting (probably 50 or 100). The lower the ISO the clearer the picture. The higher the ISO the grainier the picture.

4. The camera will pick a shutter speed automatically depending on the amount of light available. You need a fast shutter speed otherwise the runner will be blurred. Ideally a shutter speed of 1/500^th of a second or faster.

5. Take a picture. What shutter speed are you getting? Is it blurred?

6. If the shutter speed is too low, try not to zoom in too much. The more magnification on the lens, the slower the shutter speed will be. Also increase the ISO. The higher the ISO, the faster the shutter speed. I would not go above ISO 800 otherwise the picture may be too grainy.

7. Set the Auto Focus to Continuous AF(C). It is important to get the runner in focus.

8. Aim the focus box in the viewfinder onto the centre of the runner. Half press the shutter release button, and keep half pressed. The camera’s auto focus will lock onto the runner. Keep the focus box on the runner as they get nearer and take the picture.

9. Ideal settings for me would be ISO 100 (no graininess) Shutter Speed of 1/500^th sec or faster (no blurriness) and an aperture of F4 or above (a good amount of depth of field in focus).

10. A DSLR camera and a lens with a low F number will give better results due to the larger diameter better quality lens.

…….and remember, don’t post any un-glamorous pictures of the ladies on the web site, or you’ll be in big trouble!

Happy picture taking.

Nigel Shepherd

Submitted: 28^th January 2011