Swimming Competition

[MOmilkman]

A co-worker of mine wanted me to shoot his son in his last HS swimming competition as a Senior. This was my first time in a dimly lit indoor pool but I had a few shots turn out pretty good. Or at least I think so.
Is there anything you might have done differently in any of these shots?
Constructive comments good or bad always welcome.



Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 200 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV
Flash On, Fired


Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 180 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV
Flash On, Fired


Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 4000
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired

[Kaylie*Elizabeth]

I grew-up a competitve swimmer and the first picture brings back many memories. By far I love the first. I don't like the second one because his head is down and it feels ackward, but the third also looks great.

[MOmilkman]

Thanks for your comments. Unfortuantley the second is my coworkers son. I was thinking it wasn't as good as the other two and you have confirmed it.

[lerabu]

I too was a competitive swimmer back in the day Still go in the morning before work :P

Been in photo number 1 so many times

I like the photos! You used really high ISO with a speedflash? Or did you use the TTL flash on the camera? Was it really dark at the poolside?

I am still quite new to photography so I was wondering if it is possible to shoot these scenes without the flash being this dominant but rather used as light fill?

Regards!

[wamplers]

First question that popped into my mind was why such a high ISO with flash?

[TBrown00]

I would also open the lens up. According to your sig you have the 70-200 f/2.8 and I assume this is what you were using here? Any reason you had it stopped down in a dim environment?

[Jim Bryant]

Put your camera on manual. 250th of a second at f2.8 and use ISO 800-1000.
Set your flash on high speed synch. You'll get somewhat of a balance of flash and existing light so that your flash is not so overpowering and looks like you were shooting in a cave. The first and third are pretty nice captures.

[MOmilkman]

Originally Posted by TBrown00

I would also open the lens up. According to your sig you have the 70-200 f/2.8 and I assume this is what you were using here? Any reason you had it stopped down in a dim environment?

Just not really thinking clearly I suppose. I was all over the map for a bit. When the divers jump off their blocks you are not allowed to use flash. So when I flipped the flash back on after the dive I kept forgetting to turn down the ISO. Live and learn.
I was stopping down to have a bit more DOF and to have a bit sharper image but I suppose I should have just let the flash do the work freezing the action.

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Put your camera on manual. 250th of a second at f2.8 and use ISO 800-1000.
Set your flash on high speed synch. You'll get somewhat of a balance of flash and existing light so that your flash is not so overpowering and looks like you were shooting in a cave. The first and third are pretty nice captures.

Thanks Jim, I'll give those settings a try next time and see what I come up with.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by MOmilkman

Just not really thinking clearly I suppose. I was all over the map for a bit. When the divers jump off their blocks you are not allowed to use flash. So when I flipped the flash back on after the dive I kept forgetting to turn down the ISO. Live and learn.
I was stopping down to have a bit more DOF and to have a bit sharper image but I suppose I should have just let the flash do the work freezing the action.


Thanks Jim, I'll give those settings a try next time and see what I come up with.

You can use a flash when the swimmers go off the blocks, but diving competition,...no flash allowed. Same with gymnastics as well (no flash).

[MOmilkman]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

You can use a flash when the swimmers go off the blocks, but diving competition,...no flash allowed. Same with gymnastics as well (no flash).

Actually Jim, I was told no you are not allowed to due to a strobe that signals the swimmers when to jump off the blocks.

2 different people at the event made sure I knew that.

But I'm sure you would know better than me. Maybe the rules are different in different parts of the country but I wouldn't think so.