Quick Advice for Swim (Butterfly)

[lawlz_xD]

I've been asked by my school's yearbook team to go out and photograph a specific swimmer swimming the butterfly stroke which will be used to print onto the swim team's sweatshirt/t-shirt design (very exciting). The first photographer was only equipped with an XTi and kit lense and the final product was a bit awkward (arm placement was weird).

Once I receive my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM, I'll be redoing the shot. The school wants a heads-on shot with his head out of the water as he is breathing with both arms in the air. I'll be setting up at the end of the lane parallel to the swimmer.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6214070/2/istockphoto_6214070-swimming-lane.jpg

Since the rest of the picture was going to be cropped anyway I was thinking of using the following settings...let me know what you think.

Av Mode
F/2.8 (most of the focus should be on the swimmer and light is not an issue, I am shooting anywhere between 3-6 PM so f/2.8+daylight should get me high enough shutter speeds to freeze the action)
ISO 100
Shutter-Determined by Camera
AI Servo
Metering...not sure how to meter a quick-moving subject, I was thinking spot or partial but the subject may move so quick and get my meter moving around too much.

[FlyingPhotog]

I'd be laying on my stomach with the camera resting on the edge of the pool to shoot from as low a POV as possible.

Just remember to move before they make the turn. ;)

[lawlz_xD]

That was the original plan to be at the corner of the lane nice and low...but maybe I could position myself back a bit further back and use the reach of the lense XD

[FlyingPhotog]

Do they want it head on or a little bit 3/4 view?

[lawlz_xD]

I think the school would like it heads-on, but I'd be willing to try anything.

[FlyingPhotog]

This (http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/image100/p_2441684.jpg) might be something to strive for (or a variation thereof...)

Good Luck with the shoot.

[lawlz_xD]

That is a great shot! Thanks for posting it up for me, it gives me something to work off of and try to replicate.

[Darsk47]

I think you need to be in fairly tight. The guys really like to see their guns. Keep that s/s up.

Work from a number of different angles. Sounds like you're staging the shot, so you should be allowed ot get as many as you need from each perspective.

I usually like more lane rope than this. Provides a perspective rather than guy-in-blue-water. This shot to illustrate the guns.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3714592602_b61b85200f_o.jpg

[lawlz_xD]

Thanks for all the advice guys, what type of metering do you think would be appropriate in this situation? I might have to shoot against the sunlight in the afternoon....

[Adama]

I never bothered to try this with my Rebel, but can you customize the AI servo sensitivity at all on an Xti? Whenever I shoot swimming I set my AF sensitivity to lowest so my camera doesn't change focus whenever the swimmer goes back under.

[lawlz_xD]

I'm not sure about the XTi because I shoot with a 30D, I never knew about that feature to be honest...

[Adama]

My apologies, I misread your original post. I thought you were the photographer with the Xti.

In that case there may be some custom function in there that changes AF performance. I have a feeling that it might be 1D-exclusive however.

[Tatexi]

Thanks for all the advice guys, what type of metering do you think would be appropriate in this situation? I might have to shoot against the sunlight in the afternoon....

Without seeing your pool I'd guess the lightning conditions are pretty constant so you could just turn to to M, take a couple of test shots to find the right shutter speed and then just snap away.

Unless you have the whole pool for yourself, getting the smooth surface (like here http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/image100/p_2441684.jpg) is going to be next to impossible (and even then you have to pretty much nail it at the first time or wait for the surface to settle for a long time).

[Big K]

If the pool is not too deep and since nobody else will be there I would actually stand in the water so I could get the lens as close to the surface as possible. Since you can shoot at 200mm you should not have any trouble keeping things dry but using a big bag and some tape would not be a bad idea.

Also, shoot landscape orientation and not portrait like the example you posted. Might as well use all the pixels you can for the subject.