Calling all photogs....

[HDKat]

Need your advice please. My daughter is on a swim team (40 memebers). Coach would like a team pic. I have the 17-85 1.4 & the 50mm 1.4. Since I have never taken on a group larger than 5, I need your help. How would you set up the shot and with the above mentioned lenses is this possible to pull off and get right? Inside Natatorium, Bright Lighting, Canon XT, Tripod, Deep Breath.

Posing Ideas helpful, Lens& Camera settings helpful.
Incouragement needed!

Thank you in advance!:oops:

[30DShooter]

It's doable with the equip you have. For 40 members though you might be standing way back (especially with the 1.6x factor of the XT). I would take the shot from above, meaning I would be shooting from a higher elevation and aiming down at an angle. Getting 40 people in the shot is not very hard. Getting 40 people in the shot and having their faces recognizable is a different story. If possible I would rent a 10-22mm that way you won't be so far away and you'll be able to see faces.

[PhotoJourno]

Here are some links with ideas (the photos themselves are not the best, but the ideas for composition I liked):

http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdbswm/images/team_pic1.jpg

http://www.ilvydolphinswimteam.org/pictures.htm

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&tab=wi&hl=en&q=swimming%20team%20photos

I hope this helps. :)

[mkuriger]

40 people lined up on bleachers is pretty easy. don't worry so much about how to position their bodies, it's the faces that are important. make sure no faces are hidden behind other faces. I like to stagger people with about 1/2 a person of open space between each person. cramming them all together looks bad (IMO) also, 2 faces in a row should not be aligned perfectly horizontally or vertically.

I love these unique ideas!

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-take-great-group-photos/

[|)\/8]

Like 30DShooter said, you can probably make do with what you have. Here is a group shot I took, at the time all I had was a 28-135. In order to get the whole group and still be able to distinguish faces I took three separate shots and stitched them together. This was just a personal photo I took for myself since my Son was in the group and I actually took the shots before the group was set-up.

So there are other options. I will just put a link because it is a large file, and you may not care anyway.

http://www.dykstra.us/images/SailingAcadamyGroup.jpg

[Space]

I would use that 50mm. Use a tripod if you can. And, try to get a few different high and low angles. Take as many pics of the group as you can.

[howzitboy]

swim team? how bout 13 in water (up to chest or so), 13 kneeling and rest standing. sounds like a fun shoot to me. .... or just use bleachers.

[Naturalist]

swim team? how bout 13 in water (up to chest or so), 13 kneeling and rest standing. sounds like a fun shoot to me. .... or just use bleachers.



Correct me if I'm wrong here but if we have some kneeling wouldn't they be beneath the water and not be seen??

:D :D I had to do that!

Sorry. ROFL

[sando]

Why not do the shot in the water?

[simwells]

Why not do the shot in the water?

IF you could sort it that would work, off the diving board

[sando]

IF you could sort it that would work, off the diving boardGreat idea.

Position yourself on a high diving board

Lay down

Take the picture looking down at the people looking up at you from the pool

[HDKat]

Tried to climb the steps on the high dive--omg I am afraid of heights. I think its the diving blocks for me. I will post later. Thank you all for the links and posts.