Session with swimmers at pool

[reza_behnam]

I will taking images of some swimmers portrait style at an indoor pool. There

will be 4 total. Pool has excellent diffused lighting. I want to shoot them

as a group in the pool and on the pool deck. a couple questions:

I want to use the 300 f2.8 ( I will be using it to cover the events at the meet)

or stick with the 70- 200 f2.8. I know the 70-200 is a "better" choice but I

want to shoot from a distance. Part of the shoot is to pose them in the pool.

Has anyone experience in setting up the shot of swimmers in a pool? Using he

lane ropes to lean on or lie back on? Leaning on them would emphasize their

mucularity of shoulders which would look good.

Also, I think I want to lie on the deck instead of shooting from above.

Capturing on their plane instead on higher pov will look better I think.

Anyone with experience with this environment who would care to advise would be

greatly helpful. I am playing around with some posing ideas and could use more.

Rez Behnam

[William Michael]

Yes I think you have a good idea with the 300 and keeping your line of sight at water level, or close to it.

 

I do not think that hanging the subjects over the lane ropes will be of any great benefit to show biceps, triceps, deltoid or pectoral development.

 

IMO it would be better to run the subjects across the end of the pool, in one lane, under the starting platform and let them hang from the backstroke start bars.

 

In a 50mtr pool, with a 300mm (on either 135, APS-H or APS-C format) you will be shooting from the pool side, to keep that shot tight, for a four subjects: that will not look the best IMO.

 

I would opt to shoot them in a 25 metre pool: it will be a bit loose shooting from 25mtrs end to end, but I think the perspective looking down the lane ropes either side of the frame is best.

 

It will not take much of a crop on 135 format, but better to use an APS-H / C if you have, with good noise figures, even in a well lit pool, and for a static shot, you`ll be needing (a guess) ISO 800 to work at a sensible shutter speed.

 

For the pool side I would use the 70 to 200.

 

(Personally. I would use an 85prime on APS-C format or 135prime on 135format, but you did not mention either of those lenses, or your camera formats or medium for that matter, so I assume digital?).

 

Also when moving in tight H&S, I would introduce some bounce flash.

 

A good Av. Light shot is the view from the diving tower, straight down, with the subjects laying on the deck, looking up.

 

That diving platform perspective looks good with them in the water, too.

 

WW

[reza_behnam]

Canon 5D and 30D- 300 f2.8, 70- 200 f.2.8, 24-70 f 2.8 and 85 f1.8.

I didn't consider setting them up at one end of th lane and shooting down the pool or using the diving platform and shooting down. Both will look good.

Thanks s for the suggestions. I'll play around with both.