Roller Coaster Series: The Incredible Hulk

Bag and hat holders rejoice! While the wild portion of your crew is loop-dee-looing and clutching onto the safety harness, you can relax and take photos. This is the start of a mini-series (before it becomes an interntational silver screen gem) of photographing steel, wooden, and other solid building materials, roller coasters. With each new thrilling blog (spread out over the year) I’ll show you how to deal with various “obstacles” and offer important tips on how to get great vacation snapshots. Strap in. We’re off in 3, 2, 1!

Action photos are one of the more challenging images to grab with a point and shoot camera because they take longer to record the image than a single lens reflex camera does. It can be frustrating at times but with some practice and knowledge, you can walk away knowing you nailed the shot.

There are various types of action photography. This turn we’ll go over single frame still shots where you wait for the moving target to enter the frame. In other words, you hold still and the Tiki Room flies away.

First, find the location that gives you a clear view of the tracks and the car (or train, pod, bobsled, etc…). Most importantly be sure that the ride will be moving towards you or go by sideways. Strangely enough, there’s no expression to be found on the back of someone’s noggin.

Second, set yourself up. While the idea of using a tripod or monopod seems strange for a fast shutter, it does help steady the shot. If those items aren’t with you, try leaning on a fence, trash can, or other permanent and sturdy fixture. When such things aren’t available, keep your elbows in against your sides/chest to minimize camera shaking.

Third, find a spot to focus on. Make sure you aim the lense’s focal point on the same plain that the roller coaster cars travel. If you focus on a tree behind the tracks, you’ll wind up with a lovely sharp photo of the tree but not your peeps. I usually lock my eye on the tracks themselves, keeping my finger halfway depressed on the the shutter button so I’m always focused and ready to go.

Fourth, dial in the mode or manual settings. You’ll get better photos when you make the decisions. The camera has no idea you’re waiting for a speeding to train to come hurling by. The 2 best settings are Manual (M) where you choose the shutterspeed and aperture or Shutterspeed Priority (Tv) which decides what aperture to use based on the shutterspeed you select. Don’t forget to make sure the ISO (film speed) is compatible with your lighting situation. The lower the ISO number (80, 100, 200), brighter light is required.

Fifth, be ready and anticipate when your loved ones will fly by. Point and shoots have a short delay between the time your trigger finger depresses the shutter button and when the photo is actually taken. Stay a step ahead if you can by mentally timing when the coaster passes by or better yet, grab a few test shots before your offspring and crazy friends go whizzing past you.

The examples below were taken at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida within the first 30 minutes of park opening. My camera of choice is a Canon PowerShot SX30 IS. I decided to use the Auto mode. It’s not easy to tell on images of this size but the car and people are not sharp like the rest of the photo. You know how I love to teach you what not to do as well as what you should do. :cheesy grin:

The set up. The Incredible Hulk Coaster blasts fog before the car comes out the chute.

Timing the fog and when the riders would appear takes mad skills.

Sometimes you get lucky and wind blows the fog away or it’s only released for every other car. I forget which.

Since I had already framed various portions of the track, I grabbed some other action.

Now, if it doesn’t matter who’s riding the coaster and you just want some cool photos, get the morning light to backlight the tracks, wait for the fog and the car and then go to town.

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