Sean Puffett
Feb-05-2007, 04:31 PM
Hi all, and yep I'm a newbie in the forum so looking forward to spending more time here. I have a question that I hope you folks can offer some words of wisdom on.
I currently live in Sweden where I've been published a few times in local papers and magazines. Having said that, I'm still learning the trade and am always open for advice.
Right now, I have a media pass to the World Ski Championships that is right down the road from me in Åre. Still no actual skiing yet due to the snow :rolleyes but there have been some extreme events to shoot.
My problem is with night (floodlit) photography. I was in a press cordon in a prime position taking shots like the one here of Jon Olsson - a very famous freestyle skier:
http://www.puffettpix.com/photos/127458408-M.jpg
As you can see, this one is nicely in focus. But, it took 3 skiers flying by before I got this focus setting and locked to Manual Focus. This was a fast USM 10-22 lens as well.
My question is, is there any better technique than this, i.e. using AF to get to the right setting and then locking off with MF? I can't see any other way but I'd love to hear your opinions. Obviously my technique means I may miss a few jumpers until the lens hits one spot on!!
For those of you who are full-time professionals, you must take this all in your stride, but for little old me, I still feel like a fish out of water standing in a press area with the seasoned pro's!! Talk about lens envy :dunno .. They even had wireless remote studio flashes on the slope with them. Mind you, it did allow me to get shots like this:
http://www.puffettpix.com/photos/127458438-M.jpg
Anyway, I'd love to hear your opinions on the focussing problem and if you're at all interested in skiing, I'll be trying to get shots of all the races so take a look at my World Ski Championship gallery on my smugmug site over the next week and a half. I'd love to have your feedback..
Regards,
Sean
I currently live in Sweden where I've been published a few times in local papers and magazines. Having said that, I'm still learning the trade and am always open for advice.
Right now, I have a media pass to the World Ski Championships that is right down the road from me in Åre. Still no actual skiing yet due to the snow :rolleyes but there have been some extreme events to shoot.
My problem is with night (floodlit) photography. I was in a press cordon in a prime position taking shots like the one here of Jon Olsson - a very famous freestyle skier:
http://www.puffettpix.com/photos/127458408-M.jpg
As you can see, this one is nicely in focus. But, it took 3 skiers flying by before I got this focus setting and locked to Manual Focus. This was a fast USM 10-22 lens as well.
My question is, is there any better technique than this, i.e. using AF to get to the right setting and then locking off with MF? I can't see any other way but I'd love to hear your opinions. Obviously my technique means I may miss a few jumpers until the lens hits one spot on!!
For those of you who are full-time professionals, you must take this all in your stride, but for little old me, I still feel like a fish out of water standing in a press area with the seasoned pro's!! Talk about lens envy :dunno .. They even had wireless remote studio flashes on the slope with them. Mind you, it did allow me to get shots like this:
http://www.puffettpix.com/photos/127458438-M.jpg
Anyway, I'd love to hear your opinions on the focussing problem and if you're at all interested in skiing, I'll be trying to get shots of all the races so take a look at my World Ski Championship gallery on my smugmug site over the next week and a half. I'd love to have your feedback..
Regards,
Sean