Action shots: This was taken at 1/800, f2.8, ISO 2000. Flash was not an option as it was a competition. So here is my problem: The movement was in 2 directions: vertical fall and...

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

This was taken at 1/800, f2.8, ISO 2000. Flash was not an option as it was a competition. So here is my problem:
The movement was in 2 directions: vertical fall and rotation. So I feel good about the face and torso, but the hands and feet are blurry, especially the second one. Most of my diving pictures have a similar issue. Any recommendation?

Thanks in advance

Fran

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I think your shots are very well done, hands etc. are not an issue for me in these shots as they just aren't important to the scene.
Will be watching to see other comments.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Fran, my suggestion is to accept that diving is a dynamic sport. The hands and feet being slightly blurred infer a sense of motion. The face being static and sharp indicates the identity of the diver.

If this doesn't suit you, I'd go with a higher ISO and faster shutter speed. This may induce more grain in the image, but that is where the trade off comes in. It's sort of system management. What are you willing to give up to get what you want.
--Bob

Ben's nana wrote:

This was taken at 1/800, f2.8, ISO 2000. Flash was not an option as it was a competition. So here is my problem:
The movement was in 2 directions: vertical fall and rotation. So I feel good about the face and torso, but the hands and feet are blurry, especially the second one. Most of my diving pictures have a similar issue. Any recommendation?

Thanks in advance

Fran

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

No problem with hands and feet. If you do, consider a smaller aperture to increase depth of field.

VisualMusing Loc: Carrollton, TX

The action blur is not distracting at all to me. I have the same issue shooting volleyball, but I do understand your desire to completely freeze the subject. Like Jeff stated above; I would stop down just a little to provide more focal plane and bump the shutter speed if possible. What camera are you using?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That would require a slower shutter speed, which would exacerbate the blurred hands and feet issue. To avoid that, a higher ISO would be required. Depending on the camera's propensity for noise at that higher ISO, that may defeat the clarity of the overall image.
--Bob

JeffDavidson wrote:

No problem with hands and feet. If you do, consider a smaller aperture to increase depth of field.

Ben's nana Loc: Chesterland, Ohio

I'm using Nikon D750, I used a 70-200mm f2.8 lens

Fran

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

rmalarz wrote:

Fran, my suggestion is to accept that diving is a dynamic sport. The hands and feet being slightly blurred infer a sense of motion. The face being static and sharp indicates the identity of the diver.

If this doesn't suit you, I'd go with a higher ISO and faster shutter speed. This may induce more grain in the image, but that is where the trade off comes in. It's sort of system management. What are you willing to give up to get what you want.
--Bob

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I see the same problem with this as you get when photographing propeller driven planes. No blur makes it look like they are not real. To make the plane realistic you need the blur as you do in theses shots. I also think that you should have backed off a little farther or not cropped so closely either. That is just my opinion.

VisualMusing Loc: Carrollton, TX

I shoot with the same gear that you have. Here are a few tips and settings that you might try to see if you like the results.

You can expect decent images for screen viewing at ISO up to 8000, so you have some room to play. I would stop down a little and run the shutter speed to 1000+ to see if this works for you.

I have also shot in DX mode which will extend your lens to around 320mm so you won't have to crop as much. Just keep shooting and use LR if you have it to bring up some shadows, contrast, colors and WB. The natatorium lighting is blah at best, so a little PP will help.

photomarkz Loc: parma hts,ohio

Higher iso
Faster shutter speed
Blurry hands and feet r ok
Crop less or get closer
Nice shots

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

The viewer's mind can easily accept blur because it knows there is motion in the picture. If you want to cut out the motion blur you will have to use a higher shutter speed. You may wind up with a tack sharp image but it might look a bit strange because, again, the mind knows there is motion but doesn't see any in the photo. It ALL depends upon what you're trying to show the viewer.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Until sports arenas start using brighter colors on their walls instead of absorbing available light with browns and other dark colors, this might be the best you can expect. The same is true in many churches when photographing weddings. So many churches use pail variations of yellow that shots beg for flashes.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Ben's nana wrote:

This was taken at 1/800, f2.8, ISO 2000. Flash was not an option as it was a competition. So here is my problem:
The movement was in 2 directions: vertical fall and rotation. So I feel good about the face and torso, but the hands and feet are blurry, especially the second one. Most of my diving pictures have a similar issue. Any recommendation?

Thanks in advance

Fran

Personally, the very small amount of blur in the extremities is a plus - imparting motion into your captures. Having every thing perfectly frozen would look unnatural. My only advice is to straighten these and improve your noise reduction. Otherwise, I believe you have done extremely well.

Thanks for sharing.