Photographing a Dog Running Towards You!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2013. This discussion has gotten so large, I had to start a new discussion....Part Two.... and close this one.

I have been trying for weeks to get a good photograph of Fudge running towards me with her ball. I need help. I am shooting in AI Servo mode and snapping continuously as she runs towards me. Every time I think I have a good picture of her up close, when I download it to my computer, some part of her is blurry. What am I doing wrong?  How do I keep her in the frame right up until she gets to me and not have the image blurred? I am concentrating on using a shutter speed higher than 1/250 and preferring to stay over 1/500. Usually depending on my ISO, my aperture is somewhere more than 5. I think one of the problems is I need a greater DOF (narrower opening) or else I just do not have a steady enough hand as she runs right at me. I am not giving up, but I am getting discouraged. Do most of you use a tripod in a situation like this? What I think might be helpful to me is to see some motion shots with the settings used and what lens is being used. Is there one lens preferred by most for this type of shot? I am sorry if all this has been asked before.

Here are some outtakes....I have tons of these kinds of shots.

1/800, 5.0, ISO 200   Blurry

1/1000, 5.0, ISO 200  blurry

Farther away, better focus, too far for a good picture. 1/400. 5.6, ISO 100

1/400, 5.6, ISO 100

Is this just a case of I am not holding the camera still? Are my settings not right? I really want the up close shot and am not as interested in the shots just where she starts to run at me. Is my understanding of AI Servo incorrect? I thought if you focused correctly in the far away shot, as she runs towards me, if I maintain the focus point (her face), it will stay in focus. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you!

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks, F.  Hopefully I can master this sort of shot in the next 6 months or so :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow, DJ.  I love all of these but especially #3.

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks, Nancy.

[Ann Kendig]

Great action shots really like no. 2. Mike

[DJ & Chance]

Thanks.  I'll keep working on this!

[sf1]

Well, here is what I usually do:

1.  Depending on the camera and available light, set the ISO between 400 and 1600.

2.  Shoot in AV mode - set the aperture to f/2.8 to f/8.  Take a test shot - the shutter speed should be between 1/500 to 1/8000 - no need for tripod at these shutter speeds.

3.  Set the camera to Al Servo.

4.  Set the camera to centre point focusing - start focusing on the head and keep it there - do not release the focus button - keep your finger on the focus button (keep the shutter button depressed 1/2 way down) for the entire time.  As she runs towards you then you adjust to keep the centre point on the head.  If you release the shutter button with each picture, the camera will have lag time before it can focus again and this leads to blurred pictures.

5.  Check out what the minimum focus distance is for the lens - I have one lens that will not focus within 10 feet.

These were both shot at ISO 100 - it was sunny and the snowy - I did not need more because they are 1/2000 and 1/2500.  They are shot in AV, Al Servo and f/2.8.  He is running towards me at a good pace - I tried to focus on his head area, but got his chest - since they are almost in the same plane, the sharpness was good.

[DJ & Chance]

Great shots, and thanks!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Great.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Great photos and thanks for the tips!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This photo makes me smile!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It should! Clearly the dog, Vern?, is having a blast.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yep....Vern! Fudge was having a great time, too, thwarting me from getting a picture of her :) LOL I have to keep her on a leash, which makes it harder, but they were two wild Doodles today :) They like to do this within inches of me to keep me on my toes :)