Setup help

I think f/22 & iso1600 contradict each other. You want the background dark of course but you are relying on your strobe to light too much and fight such a small aperture.

Go with a larger aperture and lower iso so you actually capture your flash. I would work on getting the light on the swimmer right, then try to darken your background. The original doesn't have a very dark background.

I think if you need to background darker it may need to be done in post.

That image is on flickr? Can you ask the photographer what the set up is?

ryant35 wrote in post #7229543
I think f/22 & iso1600 contradict each other. You want the background dark of course but you are relying on your strobe to light too much and fight such a small aperture.

Go with a larger aperture and lower iso so you actually capture your flash. I would work on getting the light on the swimmer right, then try to darken your background. The original doesn't have a very dark background.

I think if you need to background darker it may need to be done in post.

That image is on flickr? Can you ask the photographer what the set up is?

The ISO 1600 part was just pure stupidity. I never intended on that...

The flickr guy seems to have a lot of shots but I don't think he actually TOOK them. His tags on the images are somewhat lude and inappropriate, and he has a lot of pictures of guys wearing very little. It may actually be a girl, not a guy haha...

dshankar wrote in post #7229683
The ISO 1600 part was just pure stupidity. I never intended on that...

The flickr guy seems to have a lot of shots but I don't think he actually TOOK them. His tags on the images are somewhat lude and inappropriate, and he has a lot of pictures of guys wearing very little. It may actually be a girl, not a guy haha...

I've left my iso too high plenty of times. Also when I shoot and I'm experimenting with lighting or shutter speeds I have shots that range from too slow & over exposed to too fast and under exposed. You need to get that range so you don't end up with nothing to show for your troubles.

I'm sure you don't get too many tries with a swimmer diving like that, maybe try with someone standing still with the same ambient light and get your lighting right before he has to keep diving over and over again.

ryant35 wrote in post #7229743
I've left my iso too high plenty of times. Also when I shoot and I'm experimenting with lighting or shutter speeds I have shots that range from too slow & over exposed to too fast and under exposed. You need to get that range so you don't end up with nothing to show for your troubles.

I'm sure you don't get too many tries with a swimmer diving like that, maybe try with someone standing still with the same ambient light and get your lighting right before he has to keep diving over and over again.

Yeah two things.
a.) I had about 5 minutes after the swim meet to do this.
b.) I tested by focusing the flash on the diving board and taking a test shot. It was satisfactory. But when I took the actual shot, he was several feet off the board, and the flash which was zoomed to 105mm didn't hit him....

dshankar wrote in post #7229890
Yeah two things.
a.) I had about 5 minutes after the swim meet to do this.
b.) I tested by focusing the flash on the diving board and taking a test shot. It was satisfactory. But when I took the actual shot, he was several feet off the board, and the flash which was zoomed to 105mm didn't hit him....

Maybe try your set up before the swim meet and mark your tripod/light locations with tape until later.

Well I'm planning a 30 minute shoot with a guy outside of meets. It'll just work better...

And this time, I'll watch two things: a.) ISO b.) Placement

And I'll also get some sleep so I don't do stupid things and then get frustrated and vent on POTN

dshankar wrote in post #7230054
Well I'm planning a 30 minute shoot with a guy outside of meets. It'll just work better...

And this time, I'll watch two things: a.) ISO b.) Placement

And I'll also get some sleep so I don't do stupid things and then get frustrated and vent on POTN

Great! Good luck and post the results!