Indoor swimming

Anyone have any pointers for shooting at an indoor swim competition? this is

strictly just for fun, my son is on the swim team! I have been trying to get a

good shot of him and have tried all different settings. i came out with one

picture that i was o.k. with and the rest were horrible! the lighting is

horrible and i get a lot of water movement! The championships are in a couple

weeks so i am trying to get it down at practices from now till then so at least

i can get a decent picture!

thank you for your comments!

Jacki

What camera and lens(es) do you own?

nikon d80 with a nikkor 18-135mm lense

I didn't shoot sports, but as my understanding, it needs high shutter speed and high ISO. Probably most problems are focus problems, and my suggestion is using a tripod, using manual focus. First focus one area, and wait, until your subject moves into this area, then click the shutter button. I am learning photography and these are just my thoughts. Hope other members could give you good suggestions.

Jackie -

 

I shoot indoor swimming for some of the teams in my area. Here's some tips:

 

Use single point AF, Continous Mode, ISO 1600 min (3200 preferred), 1/250 min shutter.

 

Contact me at dave.r.haas@gmail.com for some more.

 

Dave

I'll second David on settings. The other thing that I've found successful is to get really low, like 'lay on the pool deck' low. Also, longer and faster glass helps (something in the 80-200/2.8 family is a good starting place).

 

Having said all that, indoor swimming is one of my lowest 'keepers' quotients. You have to shoot a lot to get a few that are compelling.

Thanks Todd - I agree on the fast lens too... I usually use a 70-200 f2.8. Also on the low # of "keepers". I find that in a typical meet (2 day) I'll shoot between 500-1000+ images.

 

Jacki - getting low on the deck may or may not be an option... The meet officials here in MN tend to be sticklers on the rules that say if you don't have a "Deck" card from USA swimming, you don't get on the deck. I've learned to just get a lanyard and hang my card around my neck.

 

If you do get on the deck...keep in mind that you're sharing it with a ton of kids, whose only focus is to get to the starting blocks or back to their team area... Meaning they don't care if you are an adult, even less if you have a camera, or finally if you get wet.

 

Dave

Forgot to add... depending on the meet official - I've had them ask if I'm doing the photos to "sell" or as a "parent". My guess is that if I said "parent" they would have asked me to leave the deck.

 

Good Luck -

 

Dave

I realize that I am late to the party but, I have been shooting high school swimming for the last two years and have learned an awful lot.

 

For starters Jack Haas' comments about the lens is right on. I use a Nikon 70-200mm VR and a Nikon D1h. Yes, a D1h. Why? Because of the high frame rate (5 fps). The VR in the lens is key for me because the lighting in some of the pools that I shoot is little better than that of a dark cave at twilight. No kidding. Count on the lighting to be bad. As a side note: VR will not help with subject blur but it will generally eliminate hand shake, which is a big help.

 

Secondly, Todd Peachs' comment on getting low is also right on. Although I have not layed down on the deck, I have knelt on the deck. The one thing that taking decent swimming photos requires is that you get right in the action. If some one asks you if you were in the water while the event was going on, you are on the right track.

 

Regarding officials. David covered this but I would like to echo the subject - It would be of benefit to you to get a press pass, signed by the Athletic Director, from your son's school. You will have a better chance of getting right on the deck if there are officials that are hesitant in letting parents down to do some shooting. And believe me when I tell you, there will be. Especially at invitationals. Sometimes they only let media people on the deck. A press pass increases your chances of getting in there to get the pictures that no one from the stands can get. The officials will also appreciate you showing them your press pass so they don't have to stop the meet to find out who you are and why you are on their deck. Do this as soon as you arrive, don't even pull out your camera before you show the referee your press pass. The pass may also be good for other sporting events if your son is a multi-sport kind of guy.

 

Todd is also correct with the number of keepers comment. I recently shot 1000+ images at an invitational. I ended up publishing 96 images, and a lot of them were deck shots and awards shots.

http://pittsfordswimming.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?ap=&a=67b0de21b35ed4a2e495&pg=8

 

A subject that I would like to cover that I don't think anyone has yet is, in order to get great shots instead of just good shots, get to know the subjects.

Swimmers, like all athletes, have little idiosyncracies that you can exploit. One swimmer my be a right-side breather so you won't be able to get him going one way but you will after he makes the turn.

Pre-positioning: Don't stand at the end of the lane to photograph a free-style event, stand to the side. This way you get their face and not the top of their head or the splash from their feet.

There is one or two events that are not even worth shooting. I don't know what level your son is at but the 50 free at the high school varsity level is nothing but splashing water and flayeling arms. There are some kids that only take one breath in the whole 50 yards so your opportunities are limited. Use this time to prepare for the next event.

 

Take shots of the swimmers when they are on the deck. Let's face it, how many times can you take the same shot of the same swimmer doing their event. During a 10 or 12 meet season with two or three invitationals thrown in, you've covered it as far as water shots go. Get pictures when the guys are warming up or between events. Some guys only swim one or two events. Get pictures of them cheering on their team mates or getting ready for their next event.

 

Get your settings right and take lots of pictures. My goal is to shoot at 1/500th of a second at f/4. This, as we know, is a pipe dream when shooting inside so, boost the ISO if you have to, get your white balance right, take some reference shots, and take a lot of pictures. As the season progresses, and at this point we are probably taking about next season, you will feel a lot more comfortable and may even take fewer pics with better results.

 

Good luck to you and to your son. My son just finished sectional competition. He didn't qualify for State's though. I hope your son does well.

 

Barron.

 

<p>My son does club swimming. I found that volunteering as a marshall at the meet has got me front and center of the swimmer. I have taken some great photos of my sons breast stroke and fly. I am far from a pro, but you would never know by the photos. I just received a 70/200 IS can't wait for our invitational to play with it.</p>

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