Indoor swim meet

When shooting indoor swim meets with bad lighting, and I mean really bad lighting, do people use a flash? I took some shots of my daughter's first ever swim meet yesterday and used a flash. I don't know if it caused more reflections and than did good. I shot mainly with an EF 85 1.8 @ 1.8-2.2. I was within the 430's range.

A lot of the time, flash will interfere with the timing equipment. Using flash can get you removed from some swim meets.

Personally, I've never shot swimming with flash so I have no direct experience with how it looks relative to reflections. Try posting up some example shots from the meet you shot yesterday and we can take a look.

I haven't tried it - but perhaps a CPL can cut the reflections on the water?

You know one guy told me not to shoot at the start because there is a flash that the swimmers use in case they can't hear the gun. A camera flash may cause a false start I guess. I certainly don't want to get tossed out, so I may bag the flash next time. Nonetheless, all were taken with a flash yesterday. Here are a couple. I def. need to work on my timing and technique. I can't see how anyone could shoot much more stopped down than 2.2. These were taken at 1.8 pretty sure. Oh yeah, this is not the big time by any means. My little girl is only 6 (the youngest one there and she won her heats!!) THere was a huge window off to the side of the pool causing most of this reflection. I was just wondering what other people do. Sounds like I should skip the flash. I am just struggling so to get decent shots of my kids in places like this and gymnastics. The lighting just sucks!

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

I don't see the flash in the reflections.

FYI, don't shoot freestyle from the end. Shoot butterfly head on from the end. Shoot breastroke either from the end off on a corner or from the side. Shoot freestyle from the side. Shoot backstroke from the side, or from the end immediately after the turn.

Also, shoot from the blocks, but that is a different thing. Check my Zenfolio for a bunch of swimming material.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13259485
I don't see the flash in the reflections.

FYI, don't shoot freestyle from the end. Shoot butterfly head on from the end. Shoot breastroke either from the end off on a corner or from the side. Shoot freestyle from the side. Shoot backstroke from the side, or from the end immediately after the turn.

Also, shoot from the blocks, but that is a different thing. Check my Zenfolio for a bunch of swimming material.

Yeah, I totally figured this out yesterday. I have never tried this. But clearly you will get more dramatic angles shooting the strokes as you have described. Thanks. Again, I think I'll try next time without the flash.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13259485
I don't see the flash in the reflections.

FYI, don't shoot freestyle from the end. Shoot butterfly head on from the end. Shoot breastroke either from the end off on a corner or from the side. Shoot freestyle from the side. Shoot backstroke from the side, or from the end immediately after the turn.

Also, shoot from the blocks, but that is a different thing. Check my Zenfolio for a bunch of swimming material.

Thanks! I was asked to shoot a siwm team starting in November

JeffreyG wrote in post #13259485
I don't see the flash in the reflections.

FYI, don't shoot freestyle from the end. Shoot butterfly head on from the end. Shoot breastroke either from the end off on a corner or from the side. Shoot freestyle from the side. Shoot backstroke from the side, or from the end immediately after the turn.

Also, shoot from the blocks, but that is a different thing. Check my Zenfolio for a bunch of swimming material.

I don't see it either. But according to the exif on flickr, the first shot the flash fired, 1/500 f2.2 ISO1250. On the second, no flash fired, 1/640 f2.2 and 1250 ISO. I have not shot swimming yet (my niece is a varsity swimmer in her junior year, so I will be soon), but it does appear position is everything.

JeffreyG wrote in post #13259485
I don't see the flash in the reflections.

FYI, don't shoot freestyle from the end. Shoot butterfly head on from the end. Shoot breastroke either from the end off on a corner or from the side. Shoot freestyle from the side. Shoot backstroke from the side, or from the end immediately after the turn.

Also, shoot from the blocks, but that is a different thing. Check my Zenfolio for a bunch of swimming material.

Do look at Jeffrey's Zenfolio images. I shoot a lot of swimming and they're among the best I've seen of younger kids swimming. Really impressive work.

For further ideas, you might check this thread.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1055496

It might give you ideas on new angles...I'm always looking for different perspectives. Some of us, in that thread, have taken photos in indoor venues and like others, I choose not to use flash. I didn't do much NR with my photos. This year, I'll have a faster lens and that will be interesting to test. Good Luck.

Thanks Allen

JeffreyG wrote in post #13258817
A lot of the time, flash will interfere with the timing equipment. Using flash can get you removed from some swim meets.

Personally, I've never shot swimming with flash so I have no direct experience with how it looks relative to reflections. Try posting up some example shots from the meet you shot yesterday and we can take a look.

JeffreyG>>>looking at your pictures inspired me... I truely have a lot to learn!

I shoot a lot of swimming. I do not recommend flash as this will definitely get you thrown out of a swim meet. The starting system is tied to a strobe for deaf swimmers. Its kind of a big deal.

My best shots in swimming are wen I was able to get close enough and get low. Really low like kneeling or even laying on deck. Otherwise I always get a lane rope going through a head. Like the other poster said position is everything. Some meets I can't get close enough then I just use my 7D with a 200 lens on it to shoot video of my kid.

our7thheaven wrote in post #13958413
JeffreyG>>>looking at your pictures inspired me... I truely have a lot to learn!

Well, thanks!