Photographing a Dog Running Towards You!

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!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Camilla and Darwin on October 28, 2013 at 6:07pm

Great improvements!

Permalink Reply by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on October 29, 2013 at 8:49pm

That black dog just liked the doodles. He hung around and played for a long time.

Permalink Reply by Anne & Mr. Haley on November 1, 2013 at 8:20am

I love the last two Nancy.

Permalink Reply by Laurie, Fudge, and Vern on October 31, 2013 at 3:58pm

Very dreary day today and Hayley took off work :( We went to the pier and took some shots, but I think Fudge had some caffeine or something because she was crazy about getting Vern to wrestle.