BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: To Be Categorized

Water Action Photos

1) Should I just use a regular circular polarizer? My usual day has about 10-20% clouds and the rest sky, but a lot of times a glassy water surface.

2)What film speed should I use when I'm dealing with a circular polarizer? i'm going to be in the water, with some movement, or being pulled on the boat or in the boat at 20mph, shooting someone whos jumping over my head, at a pretty action rate speed, like...., 30 so feet approximately in 2.5-3 seconds.

Thanks

To love this question, log in above
February 11, 2001

A circular polarizer is for use with autofocus cameras. A circular or a linear polarizer can be used with manual focus SLRs.

The polarizer will cut glare and darken the blue skies which is usually desirable. With a glassy smooth water surface there will probably be a reflection of the skier on the water. With the polarizer you can turn it for no effect and get that reflection, or turn it for maximum polarizing effect and remove the reflection.

To eliminate blurring caused by camera shake when handheld the rule of thumb is to set the shutter speed at least as fast as 1/lens focal length (1/60 with 50mm lens, 1/250 with 200mm lens). When you're in the boat you are also bouncing on the waves so you may want to double those speeds (1/500 or faster with 200mm).

When the wakeboarder is jumping over you, if he/she is being pulled at 20mph they will travel 29 1/3 ft/second. You'll need to set a pretty fast shutter speed to freeze their movement. At 1/750 the wakeboarder will still move about 1/2" while the shutter is open. You'll probably want to shoot at least that fast. You can shoot this action at a slower shutter speed if you pan (move the camera) with the skier. Panning takes some practice as you need to precisely follow the action with the camera, but you cannot see this in the viewfinder because the mirror flips up when the shutter is open.

Using a polarizer costs about 2 stops of light. This means that if your exposure without the filter is 1/1000 f/5.6, then with the filter you now have to shoot at 1/250 f/5.6.

If you're using a big aperture lens like 50mm f/1.8 or constant f/2.8 zoom then you might get by with ISO 100 film, but ISO 400 film will give you more latitude in choosing shutter speeds. You'll definitely need ISO 400 if you're using a polarizing filter with a f/4-5.6 zoom. ISO 800 will get you faster shutter speeds, but will be grainier in enlargements.

To love this comment, log in above
February 12, 2001