Newbie seeking help

[SloppyBob]

Hey guys just tryin to work my way around my first DSLR. It's a Pentax with a 18-55 lens. I am an outdoors person and want to take a lot of action shots. I.e mountain biking, 4wding and amazing scenery we come across. Any tips on the action shot? I keep getting blurs and not much else. Cheers

[Wink]

Welcome.

You'll need to set the camera to shutter priority and select a shutter speed high enough to freeze the action.
The other option with moving subjects is to pan along with them as you take the shot. This technique does require plenty of practice, but the idea is to get the subject sharp and the background blurred. You'll also get motion blur on the wheels of cars, bike etc and that really helps convey a sense of motion.

[Reschsmooth]

Welcome Bob(?). Firstly, please read through the FAQ of the forum and put down a meaningful location. This has benefits such as being able to provide you with local retailers to go, meet up with forum members, etc.

It will help also if you let us know what gear you are using at the moment?

[SloppyBob]

Cheers Wink, I'll give the panning technique a go. And to take in the full array of colours in the bush how should I achieve this?

[Remorhaz]

Cheers Wink, I'll give the panning technique a go. And to take in the full array of colours in the bush how should I achieve this?

Without a specific circumstance it's unlikely we'd be able to give you a specific answer - however in general using a circular polariser is likely to help improve colour saturation if thats what you are intending

[biggerry]

G'day Bob

Any tips on the action shot? I keep getting blurs and not much else. Cheers

as Wink mentioned, check that shutter speed, the general rule of thumb is:

1/lens focal length

ie, if your using your 18-55mm lens and you are at 55mm then you need to use a shutter speed faster than 1/55 seconds and when your at 18mm it is 1/18 seconds.

If trying to nail a action shot I work from the shutter speed back, ie set the shutter speed than adjust the aperture and iso to get the right exposure. As wink mentioned 'Shutter priority' is teh place to do that.

And to take in the full array of colours in the bush how should I achieve this?

in oz, sometimes capturing the colours of the bush can be hard, in my experience you need to look at capturing it in the early or late hours of teh daylight, using a polariser and also using a slightly warmer white balance, for example using a cloudy white balance can often change that drab grey bush into a much nicer natural warmer colour.

[SloppyBob]

Thanks a million biggerry, the shutter speed tip is exactly what I was looking for. As I said I'm new to this so don't know all the jargon but I'm sure ill catch up. At the moment ill have to google polarisers

[Remorhaz]

Thanks a million biggerry, the shutter speed tip is exactly what I was looking for. As I said I'm new to this so don't know all the jargon but I'm sure ill catch up. At the moment ill have to google polarisers

NB: You'll want a Circular (not linear) one (polariser)

Also if your camera has an AutoISO function you could also use that to let the camera ramp up the ISO automatically for you to achieve the fast shutter speed you want (or even set a fast min shutter speed in AutoISO depending on what you're shooting and then shoot in Aperture priority or Manual and again let the camera ramp ISO up for you to maintain the "correct" exposure).

[biggerry]

t the moment ill have to google polarisers

here's an example i have used here in the past, its a good example in terms of showing off teh maximum effect a CPL can have.

No CPL



CPL

[surenj]

Hey Bob,

Can you post up a few images for us to look at? Then we can take them apart for ya...free of charge.

[gstark]

Hey Bob,

Can you post up a few images for us to look at? Then we can take them apart for ya...free of charge.

In actual point of fact, Suren is quite right: posting an image - as you've already done with your gorgeous pooch - is easily the best way for us to start to help you, and for you to start improving.

And yes: please put a meaningful location into your profile.

Cheers.