[Leica] RE: Ted Grant's Swimmer TECHNICAL INFO.

[gwpics at googlemail.com (Gerry Walden)]

Ted

Many thanks for such a comprehensive answer during the height of a
very busy time for you. Never having attempted swimming, but having
done the national diving championships, I realise just how difficult
this kind of work is and frankly I am amazed tat you are working
manual focus but I guess it is years of experience showing through
(and I used to do it myself before autofocus - is this what it means
when you BA after your name, before autofocus!)

Sincere thanks for the tips which will bear me in good stead when the
day comes and I try to unsuccessfully emulate you.

Gerry

On 20/08/06, Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Gerry Walden asked:
> Subject: Re: [Leica] RE: Ted Grant's Swimmer
>
>
> > Ted
> >
> > Your 'swimmer' shots are inspirational - please can you give some kind
> > of technical info on the close-up shots.<<<<
>
> Hi Gerry,
> OK here's some details.
>
> Leica R 280 2.8 ASA 800 on Canon 20D for all photographs. The photo 
> position
> for accredited photographers was pool deck and about 45 degree angle down 
> to
> the water lane 8 on the tight close-up of the Japanese swimmer.
>
> Keep in mind this is all "manual follow focus" while the swimmers are going
> like scared cats through the water. Whether following them side ways past
> you or worse... during the butterfly and breast stroke coming at you much
> faster than you may think they can swim! :-)
>
> The best bet on breast stroke and butterfly is to keep follow focusing on
> the "slight wave" just ahead of their skull as they move through the water.
> Then as they lift their head for a breath you are right there to go 
> "click!"
> :-)
>
> But swimming past your photo position rt to lt or reverse mid pool, you
> first pick them up as their head first comes out of the water for the first
> breath after leaving the starting block, don't shoot at this point. You 
> want
> them almost 90 degrees to your shoot position when you go "click." Of 
> course
> having follow focused them to that point!
>
> You must have already determined if they turn their head in your direction
> as they take their breath with the stroke. If it isn't in your direction 
> you
> don't bother to shoot! But wait for their return and hope they turn at
> precisely the right moment. That is the right moment when the rolling TV
> camera crew of 3 aren't blocking your shot as they roll along with the
> leaders of the race! :-(
>
> It happens lots of times, live with it!
>
> I suppose the most difficult is the manual focus of a Leica, but if you're
> shooting a considerable amount of sports you become fairly successful and
> "ALMOST AS FAST AS AUTO FOCUS!"
>
> No matter how good you think you are or have become in manual focus it
> doesn't matter! These days of fast auto-focusing, you are living in an
> imaginary world when you come up against auto focus, certainly Canon!! 
> Quite
> frankly I don't care who think they're fast, they are not as fast as
> shooting sports with auto focus!
>
> Oh don't bother to argue, I'm right purely from experience in all kinds of
> sports! You as a human being may think you can beat auto focus, however you
> are living in a dream world! Trust me, I've challenged this since the first
> auto focus cameras came to the world, we maybe fast, but electronics and
> learning how to use auto focus will blow you right out of business very
> shortly manually!
>
> Exposure readings? Well you can get a quick reading which pretty well is 
> the
> same for the whole pool area because it's lit for TV. You set manual and
> shoot away with your only concern being focus once the aperture and shutter
> speed is determined and locked in.
>
> I don't think there's much else unless you have questions. But damn it's
> always fun! :-)
>
> ted
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-- 
Gerry Walden LBPPA
Web: www.gwpics.com
Tel: +44 (0)23 8046 3076
Skype: gerry.walden (uk)