open water swim event shoot

[HLing]

I've just volunteered as a photographer for the 28.6 mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, an open water swim event where swimmers will swim around the island of Manhattan! http://www.nycswim.org/Event/Event.aspx?Event_ID=2102

Has anyone done something like this before? It will be at least 8, 9 hours. I want to shoot film, probably B & W. Since the Leica IIIf isn't really mine I'm going to be using my Minolta SRT 201 with a 58 mm lens and a 135 mm lens available to me. I'm wondering how many rolls of film I should have ready and how to be self-sufficient without carrying too much nor running out of things....

Thanks for any general or specific tips for the event!

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i did a terrible job sometime this year.

a couple of things I learnt:

* use a filter

* the reflection of the sea will overexpose easily, so do not overexpose intentionally

* Use a zoom or tele lens.

Lastly, if i have access, i would get a nikonos, waddle in a life-buoy and snap from the front or go underwater and capture underwater pictures of the swimmers overhead.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

When using film use 36 exposure rolls which is more shots per roll.

 

[HLing]

i did a terrible job sometime this year.

a couple of things I learnt:

* use a filter

* the reflection of the sea will overexpose easily, so do not overexpose intentionally

* Use a zoom or tele lens.

Lastly, if i have access, i would get a nikonos, waddle in a life-buoy and snap from the front or go underwater and capture underwater pictures of the swimmers overhead.

Raytoei, I love the B & W look. Love the shots! You've convinced me to use B & W. I have the kenko skylight filter on my lens all the time anyway, is that sufficient? Thanks for the suggestion of Nikonos. I looked it up, and I love all things water-proof/weather proof. I don't think I can learn to move fast enough in the water between now and 6/18 though, but, wow, I'd love to get one of those cameras someday.
(Question: in your 2nd picture, all those ships lined up...was that in Galveston?)

**************************************************

"I would suggest two bodies and at least fifty rolls of film. As well, an assistant to reload the second body. You absolutely do not want to think about film rationing. The subject matter is highly dynamic and you will want to visually investigate to your heart's content.

If there is a helicopter available (yes, I understand that you are a volunteer) see if you can cadge a ride. Shoot the helicopter stuff at 1600 ISO..."

Sonofdanang, you and Raytoei are upping the glamour and fun factor by 1000 fold! I have not been inside a Helicopter.....yet. With what kind of camera and lens would you shoot the helicopter view?

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

HLing, if you are shooting b&w, i would suggest a yellow filter. If I can refer you to my pictures, had I used a yellow filter, the sky would NOT be a sheet of white but instead there would be more details like different shades of clouds.

However, filters do have its downside as it complicates exposure calculation, it isn't difficult but its something you have to compensate for, for example, all yellow/orange/red filters have a filter factor, and the filter factor translate to number of stops for compensation:

UV = clear = 1 ffactor = 0 stops compensation
Light yellow = around 2 ff = 1 stop compensation
Dark Yellow = around 3 ff = 1.5 stop compensation
Orange = 4 ff = 2 stop compensation
Red = 8 ff = 3 stop compensation
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_factor

what this means in shooting is that if you shoot at say, 1/125 and f8 and iso 100 before a filter, you would have to provide more light if you shoot with a Light Yellow filter, (ff =2, 1 stop compensation) : either 1/60 and f8 or 1/125 and f5.6 or change the ISO, ie. 1/125 and f8 but iso 50.

hope this helps

raytoei

 

[HLing]

Thanks all for your input!

Now I'm wondering what film to use. In Hong Kong I had a chance to shoot a small group of triathlets on the beach before and after getting into the water. I'd used Fuji Acros then. That roll isn't developed yet. Same story a couple of weeks ago, also not yet developed.

So, would kodak 400 CN be better as far as getting the results sooner? Also, if I shot with 400 CN, what's the situation like if I want to enlarge a shot in the darkroom? Is there a filter that can be used for c41 negatives to print B & W?

 

[HLing]

Oh well, since I'm not a "professional" and I'm shooting film, (and probably because I didn't offer the helicopter shoot 😱) I'm not going to be one of the photographers per se.

 

[HLing]

well, I'm happy to say that the organization really knew what it was doing so I was able to get to know the event close up and get shots without the aid of an helicopter 🙂)). It was an inspiring event as well as a learning experience! I was in a boat from 8 AM to 7 PM following one of the swimmer from beginning to end. I did end of losing one roll due to loading mishap, but I've still 6 rolls. Loving film and the sturdy mechanical Minolta SRT 201!

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