MOTION PICTURES

Mike Harris employs cutting-edge autofocus tech to capture a sequence of action shots

- Mike Harris

3 HOURS

Back in March Nikon invited us to London’s Lee Valley VeloPark – the cycling venue for the 2012 Olympics – to photograph breakdancing, BMX freestyle and, of course, cyclists navigating the incredible velodrome. Armed with a Z 6II and a brand-new Z 9, we were able to make full use of the very best camera equipment Nikon has to offer.

While the latest cameras from Nikon and other brands boast incredible low-light capabilities and advanced AF systems to date, they don’t take the photographs for you. High-end camera kit is constantly pushing boundaries further than ever before and redefining expectations, but the basic ingredients required to capture a good action shot haven’t really changed.

Images need to be sharp and subjects need to be in focus, shutter speeds have to be fast enough to freeze the action, and noise levels need to be kept to a minimum. That might seem like a lot of stuff to think about when a cyclist is hurtling towards you, but the trick is setting your camera up ahead of time so that you only have to worry about capturing the shot.

Full control over your shutter speed is essential, so you need to work in either Shutter Priority or Manual mode. Continuous autofocus is another must, so the AF will continuously focus as you track your subject. Some of the finer details covered here, for both DSLR and mirrorless users, are down to personal preference, and the settings and options will differ between camera makes and models, so take the time to experiment to find out what’s right for you.