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03/05/2006 12:38:05 PM · #1 |
I found out the other day that a customer of mine is a World Class Amateur waterskiing champion (Lonnie Harris---scroll down to Men 4 . here). He owns a construction company here in MS and has his own lake that he can practice on. Down the road there are 2 roads that go down each side of another lake. I spoke with 1 of the people on those roads and they said they practice everytime the air temperature gets over 70 degress. Well, its 65 now (11:30am) and I'll probably take a trip up there after I do laundry to try and get some shots.
My question to those who have shot waterskiers. Do you focus on the bouy's or follow the skier till he/she gets there? I only have a 55-200 f/4-5.6 to use. Will this be fast enough (it is a pretty sunny day, sun is popping in and out)? I forgot exactly how close I can actually get, but I know it's not to far. The lake isn't a HUGE lake, just big enough for them to practice.
I'd appreciate any help.
Edit: P.S. I'll also be taking my 105mm f/2.8.
Message edited by author 2006-03-05 12:40:04.
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03/05/2006 12:51:45 PM · #2 |
Depends on where you are shooting from .... typically I focus on the skier throughout the run. That being said, I typically like to watch a couple of runs and see where their best turns are and focus there. I have found that some of the best shots can actually be found when they're running between the buoys sitting down on the ski.
As far as the lens selection, a 4-5.6 is plenty fast for daylight skiing.
Message edited by author 2006-03-05 12:53:54.
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03/05/2006 07:54:47 PM · #3 |
Well, I'm home. Beautiful day out today and I'm glad I got out. Another customer I go to let me park my car in his driveway and I got down to the edge of the lake.
I read what you wrote before I took off earlier jax and it worked like a charm. I have to say...I have never seen waterskiers in action in person before today. I have seen them on tv but didn't realize how fast the boat and the skiers went. It really caught me offguard. It took 2-3 runs to get used to the speed. But, once I did, I managed to keep him in the frame..lol. The sun was at about 11:00 (it was 2:30-3:00PM) coming from my left. Also, I haven't PP any of them photos yet except for resizing.
Now, here are my questions:
1. Some of the photos got 'blown out' from the sun (when the skier was coming from the left). The 'blown out' part was caused from the sun reflecting off the spray caused from the skier. How can I correct this in the future?...going to the other side of the lake wasn't an option. It's private property on both sides. I have to admit though, the dark skier against the bright background looks pretty good in a FEW of the photos.
2. Would a good filter (I had on a cheap polarizer) help?
3. Would a better lens have made a difference? I was using a Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC (I ordered an EX DG).
  
  
  
  
  
 
Most of the photos were taken with the EXIF data below. There was some variance as the sun went down some more.
Flash used: No
Focal length: 200.0mm (35mm equivalent: 300mm)
Exposure time: 0.0020 s (1/500)
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO equiv.: 100
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Auto bracketing
Message edited by author 2006-03-05 20:17:42.
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03/05/2006 09:40:23 PM · #4 |
Some good shots for your first attempt at waterskiing. Winter skiing is hard to shoot especially mid-day.....black wetsuits and spray make for a nightmare exposure....just remember you can't have it all.....when shooting in conditons like that I tend to go for the silhouette....meter to have the spray as close to properly exposed as you can and positon yourself so that the spay frames the skier. I have the same "problem" as you at the lake where I typically shoot. Great warm light one pass, harsh contrast on the return.....
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03/05/2006 09:59:54 PM · #5 |
Just curious... did you ask if you could tag along on the boat? I'm not sure whether it makes it easier or harder, but you might have a good time getting shots from the perspective of the boat.
When I have friends on our boat, I always enjoy trying to get some shots of them waterskiing. It's definitely tricky because of the motion of the boat, but at least I can shoot them constantly from that vantage point. I generally just aim the camera in their general direction and shart rapid fire shooting.
Granted, most of the time I'm also driving the boat, so that certainly makes it a bit harder than it needs to be... but I've gotten some decent waterskiing shots along the way :) |
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03/05/2006 10:24:03 PM · #6 |
Sounds good. Are you saying not to worry so much about seeing the skier because if I focus to much on him, I'll get those blown out backgrounds? I can do that...I think. Now I can't wait to get back there. There's a little 'pier' I can walk out on.
P.S. That 2nd shot looks like you shot from inside the boat. would have thought the boat bounced to much.
Edit to answer alan:Well, I work for FedEx and those are my customers. It was my 1st time up there, so I kinda felt a bit funny as it was. I did think I would have loved to shoot from there...maybe next time. I'm thinking the boat doesn't rock/bounce TO much being the only moving thing on the water (other than the skier). Maybe Jax will enlighten us.
Message edited by author 2006-03-05 22:27:54.
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03/05/2006 11:30:58 PM · #7 |
Alan makes a good point about getting in the boat. It is a great place to shoot because you can manually set the focus on the skier and forget that part of the shoot entirely. You'll probably get bored of it after a while as the shots tend to look the same but it is a great place to get a feel for the sport.
As for being bumpy....if you're in a dedicated slalom lake, as it appears you are, the boat will be just like standing on that dock. And as for the dock, the first shot I posted was shot from a dock as he came out of the 2 ball...you should be able to get some good stuff from there. Also, I don't know the guys you are shooting, but skiers tend to be a laid back bunch, so if there are no more than a driver and a watcher in the boat I wouldn't hesitate to ask if you could hop aboard.
Good luck with your next shoot....
oh, and if you do get in the boat be aware of the rope when a skier wipes...occasionally, especially with highly skilled skiers, it will snap back INTO the boat and you'll get to see it real up close and personal through your telephoto before it smacks you in the noggin...
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03/06/2006 09:19:28 PM · #8 |
  
Message edited by author 2006-03-06 21:50:52.
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03/06/2006 11:01:39 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by jaxsond:
As for being bumpy....if you're in a dedicated slalom lake, as it appears you are, the boat will be just like standing on that dock. |
Well, those photos were just practice on their private lake. All that's there is a slalom course. About 200 yards up the road is another private lake (it must be nice to have money) with a jump (all you could see from the road). But, from what my customer told me, they occasionally hold tourneys there. Which...to me means...slalom also.
I can't wait!!! I'm just waiting for a job transfer opportunity to open in Denver, then I'm off. Hope they have some tourney before I go.
Also, I can see by the shots above that you don't/can't? TOTALLY eliminate the highlights, just minimize their effect on the shot and if I'm not mistaken, the better shots are taken later or ealier in the day when the sun isn't as high.
Thank you guys(?) for your tips. I'll post some photos next time I can get there for one of their practices.
P.S. Nice shots faidoi. Hope mine come out as well.
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