p.1 #2 · Swim League Final @ The Plunge Los Angeles Coliseum
i guess no one commented, and I like swimming so I'll give it a shot. they are nice.
things to try next time: shoot some back-lit with high sun--shots will be more dramatic. try getting other swimmers in the shot, it gives an impression of a race rather than a lone swimmer coming up a lane. (not always possible if the subject is too far ahead or behind). your #2 is a great shot and the 'standard' fly shot. to mix it up, try shooting fly from an angle.
avoid face down shots--parents want to see the face. if you want to see examples, pm me and i will direct you to some shots or i can post a few.
p.1 #3 · Swim League Final @ The Plunge Los Angeles Coliseum
First three are much better than the last two simply because there is much more face out of the water.
#4 does nothing for me -- and #5 is a frame or two late.
I think I know what you are were going for in number four, but the focus is too much on the arm and not enough on the swim cap. Maybe try panning that shot for a different effect with some nice blur from the arm swing and the water.
Keep em coming. Swimming is fun to shoot especially if you play around with reflections off the water and tinted goggles.
p.1 #4 · Swim League Final @ The Plunge Los Angeles Coliseum
Ah swimming. If I've got one shot like these, I've got a thousand. Not that there's anything wrong with these, they're pretty good actually, but I'm just so bored with them. Don't get me wrong, they're good and I'm sure the parents and swimmers like them, but the artist ( ) in me has just seen enough.
I've been trying to come up with ways to make swimming more interesting for me. Try dragging the shutter especially at starts, try shooting fly from the side, maybe get behind or under a starting block (probably not possible at a meet, maybe at practice) and yeah interaction between racers. I managed one of a couple backstrokers where their arms cross to form a perfect X. Lucky coincidence, but cool shot. I've taken to candids of the kids on the deck as well. They seem to like those a lot. Anybody else got any ideas on how to make swimming shots more creative, I'd love to hear 'em.
p.1 #5 · Swim League Final @ The Plunge Los Angeles Coliseum
My kids swim competitively too. I try to get shots as they emerge from the water - the right shot looks good for backstroke.
The "racing" pic with multiple swimmers is easier to do at higher level meets. The swimmers need to be evenly matched so they don't separate so far.
I've tried panning - never had good results. The swimmers are moving in multiple directions so the blur occurs on everything, including the swimmer. Nothing at all like panning a track sprinter. Swimmers forward movement isn't anywhere near as fast and swimmers are moving up/down and rotating much more than sprinters.
Try capturing breast/fly turns.
Backstroke starts can look really good, depending on the swimmer and you catching the right moment.
For good flyers and breaststrokers, a sequence set is nice - especially if you can do 5+ fps.
) in me has just seen enough.