Pool shot suggestions & technique...

[pigtailpat]

Hi everyone -

I'm realllyyyy new to the 30D. Today will be my first time in a pool setting (baseball team party - I've been mostly posting in sports for the baseball shots).

Anyway, I'd love to pick up some tips for this type of shooting, where there's lots of bright blue water. I can bring either my 70-200 lens, or my 24-105 (I'm leaning towards 24-105 for group shots of the boys gathered tobether). Unfortunately, there's no room the bag for both lenses (sigh).......... (getting a crumpler is on the list for me, but not this month - money is gone already).

I have to leave at like 11:45 am EST (party is at noon), so any tips up to then I will see.

I have no CPL or any other filters for that matter. Weather here in the east coast is sunny and beautiful.

Thanks!

[In2Photos]

Use a flash for fill! The bright blue water can certainly throw off your metering. I have some shots recently that I posted on my site here (http://www.pbase.com/madawson/pool_time) if you would like to look. I used my 70-200. I shot in Av mode, and set EC to -2/3 (normally I use +1/3 so this really means I am underexposing the background 1 stop). I used HSS on my 430 and adjusted FEC to taste.

Here are 2 shots from that gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/madawson/image/80945824.jpg

For reference the flash did not fire here, resulting in a slightly underexposed face:

http://www.pbase.com/madawson/image/80945828.jpg

[pigtailpat]

Use a flash for fill! The bright blue water can certainly throw off your metering. I have some shots recently that I posted on my site here (http://www.pbase.com/madawson/pool_time) if you would like to look. I used my 70-200.

Hey thanks. This means I gotta experiment with my flash?? (I haven't pulled it out of the box yet - fear what can I say). Will the pop up flash suffice?? I really haven't the time to pull it out now (not even sure if I have the proper batteries). For groups of kids (at the championship game), I found that using the 70-200 is akward because you cannot get the faces of everyone in properly (for the minium focusing distance you have to be quite far), that is why I'm leaning on the 24-105 for this outing, although I will probably miss the 2.8 aperture. I'll try throwing in the flash box and see if I can read up at the pool (thanks).

[In2Photos]

Hey thanks. This means I gotta experiment with my flash?? (I haven't pulled it out of the box yet - fear what can I say). Will the pop up flash suffice?? I really haven't the time to pull it out now (not even sure if I have the proper batteries). For groups of kids (at the championship game), I found that using the 70-200 is akward because you cannot get the faces of everyone in properly (for the minium focusing distance you have to be quite far), that is why I'm leaning on the 24-105 for this outing, although I will probably miss the 2.8 aperture. I'll try throwing in the flash box and see if I can read up at the pool (thanks).
This might not be the best time to experiment with your flash. ;) But, you gotta start some time. :) The built-in won't work well for this situation unless you are pretty close bue you will be forced to stay with shutter speeds at 1/200 or slower. With the 580 you can use high speed sync to shoot faster, albeit with a reduction in flash power.

The 24-105 might be fine to use, especially if you need to get group shots. Since you are shooting outdoors (I assume since you mentioned a pool and good sunny easct coast weather) f/2.8 shouldn't be a requirement. I just like being able to stand back from the splashing.

[pigtailpat]

This might not be the best time to experiment with your flash. ;) But, you gotta start some time. :) The built-in won't work well for this situation unless you are pretty close bue you will be forced to stay with shutter speeds at 1/200 or slower. With the 580 you can use high speed sync to shoot faster, albeit with a reduction in flash power.

The 24-105 might be fine to use, especially if you need to get group shots. Since you are shooting outdoors (I assume since you mentioned a pool and good sunny easct coast weather) f/2.8 shouldn't be a requirement. I just like being able to stand back from the splashing.

Alright - I guess you're right, I gotta start sometime (flash photography is a whole another animal, and I had been hesitating to go there). I'll just bring my glasses (yeah - mid-forty stuff starting) and read. I know what you mean about the splashing, I'm not intending to get shots of them in the water (boys in the water means lots of splashing and no way will I risk it). By missing the 2.8, I meant for the beautiful bokeh the 70-200 produces, not for the low light abilities. although I should be able to achieve some subject isolation at f4 with the 24-105 if I am close enough.

Inasmuch as this is just a team party, this is a good time to experiment I guess, no critical moments at this outing.

Many thanks - I'll be off soon.