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!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yes, I agree. I shoot Darwin often in midday sun because that is when we take him out (it's warmest) but it's really not ideal for photos. :-)

[GBK]

My favorite lens for action is my 55-200.  I love shooting action, my suggestion Joanne is start in the Sport mode of your camera and get the hang of focusing first.  I shot Sport long into using Manual for everything else.  You can start adjusting your settings once you are getting the hang of focusing on the eyes.  I don't use a tripod, but usually sit on the ground or lean on a bench to support the camera.  I also shoot one picture at a time, focusing and refocusing on the eyes as they are running. 

Here are a few examples with the settings:

F7.1 S1/1600 ISO 400

F7.1 S 1/2000 ISO 400

F6.3 S 1/1600 ISO 400

 

F4.5 S1/800 ISO 400

 

F8 S1/200 ISO 400

 

F7.1 S1/1600 ISO 400

 

F8 S1/2000 ISO 400

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Gina, You should already know that Kona's calendar picture is my inspiration. Great pictures and thank you so much for posting. I am going to play around tomorrow with my Sports Mode.

[Sue]

I shoot with a Nikon D700. I always use the 70-200 2.8 for action. It also has image stabilization. My shutter speed for all of these were 1/1000 to 1/1250. the aperture settings were 5.6 to 7.1. I had pretty good afternoon light so my ISO was 320. I did have to add fill light on Chip as he is harder to capture in the shade.

You will have to click on the images because they are compressed by DK. UGH!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sue, Thank you! These are great shots.

[F, Calla & Luca]

They are. I especially like the second.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The rest of my reply disappeared. I am in awe of anyone who can get TWO dogs in focus running at them. Thanks for posting the pictures, the lens, and the settings.

[F, Calla & Luca]

So that's all I'll have to do : )

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Your golden colored dood looks so much like my Bay! Love your pix!

[DJ & Chance]

I am also learning how to do this, but I've noticed that most of my dog on the run blurred shots (I must have a thousand of these) are the result of the dog getting too close to the camera or a depth of field that is too shallow.  

Here are two photos of Chance on the run today before I had to take back the stake he stole from the garden :)  As with Jarka's photos, both of these are severely cropped.  I used my 85mm prime and settings were 1/640 f/4 ISO 200. 

Try cropping the third photo of Fudge and see what you get.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

DJ, I actually think you are getting so good at these moving shots. Plus, you have some green in your pictures. What is that like? All we have around here is brown, brown, and more brown. Fudge and Vern both run right at me and I think part of the problem is I am trying to dodge them :) I will try cropping more. I love that Chance stole that stake. He is so darn cute.

[DJ & Chance]

It gets brown and drab here in the summer and winters are lush and green. So my hard season is coming up:)