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I don't know if this should be under "General" or "Absolute Beginners", so apologies if it's in the wrong section, but I'd like advice from you guys (& gals) if possible:

I've been approached to take shots of volunteer swimming teachers and their asthmatic pupils in an indoor pool apparently "with windows down one side of an otherwise fairly dark room with reflected glare from the water". I would like to get out there to see the pool and have a test shoot beforehand but, as the pool is the hydrotherapy pool of a hospital, I don't know yet if I can do so.

I would really like to do a good job for these wonderful volunteers so, in the meantime, if anyone has shot in these conditions, could you spare me some tips which might help?

Thanks a lot everyone

I have no experience with this, but would suggest using a polarizing filter and the sb800, or more if you have them, for shooting under such conditions.

I'll be interested to see any other responses to this, but here are my thoughts...
Definitely shoot RAW because you are likely to get WB / exposure problems with the light from the window and reflections off the water...
Unless you want some effects from the glare, it sounds like you need to keep the window behind you...
If you are forced to shoot towards the window, you could try a polarising filter to cut down on the glare from the water...

For some really good shots, you could always consider getting into the pool with them (if you dare)... Be careful with the chlorinated water as I've heard that it can damage the lens coatings.

leek wrote:you could always consider getting into the pool with them (if you dare)...

Well, that was suggested to me, but I'm a bit reluctant to do so, for the obvious reason you pointed out but I agree, it would make a better shot. If I had a Nikonos, it would be different, but I don't unfortunately!

Any more hints & tips? Pleeeease - keep them coming!!

you will not need a polly filter as the water will be like little waves and will have enough contrast but you will need flash fill, so available light with flash fill and try not to shoot into the light if possable unless it gives you something very different and auto White balance

bp PS: close up and average distance let the camera and flash do the work, wide shot and into the light do a bracket, and check in your viewer

Get a rubber lens hood!
Press the rubber up against the glass... (rubber lens hoods are relitively cheap for the 50/1.4-18

Perhaps consider manual white balance. Indoor pools sometimes have lights at differing colour temps like flouro and sodium.

Alistair

OK, Can I add something to this subject? Sorry, but I'm can't help myself! I am a very happy little Nikko just now!

The reason that the swimming teachers asked me to shoot them and their asthmatic pupils was because they wanted to offer some shots up to the local Council to be considered for part of the Council's Volunteers Day promotion and then possibly to be exhibited for a couple of weeks as well, if they were chosen.

Well, I've just been notified that 3 of the 6 photos which we selected and submitted to the Council have been chosen and will be exhibited - woo hooo !!! I'm so excited!! Can you tell?

Anyway, even though it probably looks like it, I really didn't get on here to "blow my own horn" as they say. I just really wanted to say thanks to all of you guys who replied to my post and helped me with your tips and advice. I really appreciated your help then and now.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you to you all. I am stoked and appreciative. I know that some of you guys must be used to having your stuff exhibited and displayed, but this is a huge thrill for me!

Nikko

Congrats Nikko

That is truly great news; well done, and congratulations.

Are you able to post the selected images here for us to see?

I'd really like to but have to get the OK from parents and from the Council. The parents signed Consent Forms for the photos to be offered up to Council, but not for anything else. I'm preparing another Consent Form for them to sign, if they will, allowing me to include the photos on Website and into my own portfolio. If they do, then I definitely will post onto this forum.

As the for 6 that were submitted to Council, I'm not sure if it will agree to me using them as I signed over Copyright to them when the photos were offered to them. But if they do, then I expect I'll have to wait until the exhibition is over (mid-May).

Anyway, I'd be surprised if all of the parents say no, so I'll be able to post some but, unfortunately, not the best ones if Council says nay to my request. Here's hoping.

I was so pleased when I got the news, I just couldn't help sharing it with you guys, who I also really wanted to thank for helping me with this.

Thanks again

Hi

Picture taken by me. My niece having swimming lesson. D70 + 80-200 f2.8.
Try avoid using flash. Use a good zoom to give you the flexiblility - group shots as well as closeup.





regards,

Arthur

Congratulations, that is a thrill like no other; and I find it hard to imagine that anyone here, no matter how experienced and successful wouldn't be thrilled at having their photos exhibited. Way to go.