Action shots require a fast shutter speed.
What that is in its most basic form is the shutter will open and
close so fast, that image has been snapped.
Problems: Fast Shutter
You typically need more light (Sunny day)
as there is less light getting in at those speeds.
So you could end up with darker pictures than intended.
At Night : Fast Shutter
They dont mix, unless you have a flash and its close range
but even then you probably wont get the results you want.
Next Experiment
Yes you can, providing you stay still (Tri pod)
But alot of zooming gets done in photo shop nower days,
just get the picture with digital and fix it later
Auto Timers
Waddi what Mattys explaining is that if you have to leave the shutter open for any period of time more than the norm,
you vulnerable to "Camera Shake" be it your own hands or the
pressure on the tripod, any movement no matter how small will
cause blurring. So as matty explaines on those open shutter
pictures which are typically at night, let the camera take
the picture. Then there will be no blurring at all.
Pros used to use the lead also that they could depress
from a distance, so not camera movement occured.
Once you have done it once or twice it will all make sense mate
Hope that helps
Its all to do with the speed of light hitting that shutter
to make an image, remember to old days peeps had to stay
perfectly still for 5min, and he had a cloth over his head.
More Light / Flash = Faster shutter = shaper pics.
Less Light = Slower Shutter = possibility to blur.