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!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Congratulations!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh yes, great photo!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I love that lens. My DD borrowed it, and I keep telling her to give it back. Cute photo!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

OMD this one is awesome!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

This is great Sandy!  Enjoy your new lens.  My new lens (90mm macro) came Wednesday but it has been so cloudy I really haven't been able to do much with it.  : (

[DJ & Chance]

Enjoy!  It is my favorite lens.  Nice shot!

[Leslie and Halas]

My new lens came in Monday, and I rushed out after work to get some pictures of Halas running towards me.  I put him in a stay, walked away from him, turned around, got into the Ronna-squat, got the camera ready, and called him to run towards me.  This is what I got.  You'll notice the complete lack of movement.  Nice recall, Halas.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

ROTFL.....Fudge does this, too, when a ball is not involved. The slowest walker ever and she looks behind her just to make sure I can't get a photo :) Just don't make Halas mad. I don't want to read he smothered you :) I am also impressed you got in the Ronna squat. That would involve a paramedic for me :)

[Leslie and Halas]

That's actually how I squat when I work out, usually with a decent amount of weight on a barbell.  So doing it with just a camera isn't too bad.

Halas doesn't really like to run with his leash attached.  So maybe I'll have better luck if I take off his leash.  I've also got lots of pictures of his body facing me, but his head turned to the side, like he doesn't want me to get a picture of his face.  Goofy boy.  It's been a long time since he's tried to smother me, so maybe I've built up some goodwill.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Cute photo though. What lens did you get?

[Leslie and Halas]

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4 L IS USM.  I've gotten some pretty decent stills so far, but I really need to work on the action stuff.  I love it so far.