What lens would you recommend for swim meet?

I am going to a National Swim meet in April and am planning on

shooting some pictures. But I will not find out where my seats are

and how far they will be from the action until I receive the tickets

at the end of March. The meet is going to be in the IU Natatorium in

Indianapolis, Indiana. Can anyone one suggest what number mm lenses I

should plan to use? Thanks!

200mm f/2 or 300mm f/2.8

possibly the best one is a 15mm f 2.8 attached to a Nikonus V underneath the swimmer, but, since they probably will not like that idea too much, why not call up there and ask what the options might be. Ask if there's a press area that you could apply for entry. Try to find out how many feet away you might expect to be.

 

If you don't have this info, then like Mr. Vener has pointed out a 300 f 2.8 lens would be a good choice or a 400mm. You failed to indicate which camera setup you have...

 

DON'T FORGET A STURDY MONOPOD!!!!!!!!!

What is the attraction of a monopod in this situation? The price of monopods are about equal to a good or better tripod.

 

Perhaps if you are higher up in the stands where you wouldnt have lot of room for the tripod legs. THen again this wouldnt be a great spot either becuase of people getting up and moving around.

 

Kieran Mullen

If you've ever been to a sporting venue using a 300 f 2.8 or larger lens , then, you wouldn't ask what the attraction of a monopod is. Thats not meant to be nasty.

 

My heavy monopod from Manfrotto was approx $60, my heavy tripod was over $400. You cannot use a tripod from the stands for obvious safety reasons, there are many people that need egress at all times and the speed of using a monopod is light years faster than a tripod setup.

A side note... In these cold months, get there early enough for your gear to warm up to room temp so you don't have to deal with condensation.

Yeah I got the Manfrotto 7 ft Tripod. (I am 6 ft 5) it was about $70.

 

Meh... I wouldnt be in the stands. How would a monopod help with the fact people are getting in the way all the time?

 

Get in front would seem good to me.

 

Kieran Mullen

i shoot a lot of basketball. monopod much easier to move around.

Angie, I am the IU Natatorium Photographer and the photo chief for the event. I was also

the photo chief for the World Championships here in Indy last October. I also shoot

swimming for Swimming World magazine. Bring a monopod and the fastest lenses you

have.

 

You did not say whether you are shooting film or digital, it will make a difference. The

tripod is a bad idea. There will be no room for one anywhere near the action.

 

If it is a sunny day, during the prelims the exposure is approximately 1/500 at f2.8 at iso

400-800 depending on how bright it is outside. At night, figure 1.5-2 stops darker.

 

When you get your tickets you can call or email me for further information.

 

You can check out my swimming shots at www.peterbick.com and also get my contact

information.

 

Good Luck,

 

Peter Bick

Looks like quite the venue! If you are on the railing shooting at the first or second lane from you, then a 200mm (f2.8 would be nice) would suffice. If you are on the rail but shooting farther into the pool a 300mm would be good. If you are at the top of the bleachers a 400mm (preferably f2.8) would be nice. I refer to film with these sizes but you can never be too close so an x-factor DSLR would only help.

 

 

In pools of similar width to this one I shoot 400mm f2.8 from the top and 200mm f2.8 from the rail. I can't tell from the pool pictures if the seats are right on the rail or if there is a walkway between the front row of seats and the rail. If you are sitting right at the rail then the 400 would be good here too. The next time I go to an Olympic sized pool I am going to take two bodies, one with a handheld 300mm f4 and one with the 400/2.8 on a monopod. If you have the 400 and you are sitting on the rail, and you are trying to shoot the lane right beneath you, it can get very tricky. Hence the smaller 300mm.

 

 

Obviously this pool will have more natural light than what I am used to shooting with but even so if you have a powerful flash it can create nice fill highlights at 1/250 second, and still freeze the motion. The flash brings the water and colours to life. You need a huge guide number even for an f2.8 lens. I think I work with GN 172. If the place is lit by full sun it will help a lot. In a pool like this with bright sun an f2.8 and 100 asa film would work and be ideal. I would still have plenty of 200 and 400 asa film available though too. The slower the film you can use the richer the colours will turn out. If you are dealing with an f4 or f5.6 lens then you will have to up your film speed appropriately.

 

 

My 23 year old nephew swims at the national meets in Canada and my 9 year old daughter just started competitive swimming this past fall. Perhaps she will follow in his wake. I must say it is a lot easier photographing the slow young ones than the fast old ones. Be very wary of the stroke being swum, the direction they are going in, the rhythm of their stroke etc in an attempt to come up with an effective composition. This is where I would dearly love to have digital. If the arm or head isn't where I want it then I could just trash the image. Good luck and have fun!