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AlphaGAK20D · 06-01-2009, 11:32 AM

With summer break in full swing, I've got a feeling we'll be at the n'hood pool quite a bit during the coming months and would like feedback re: settings/things to keep in mind when shooting, so I give myself the best possible shot at getting some nice/fun shots.

With so many reflective surfaces in play, I'm interested in hearing about metering, focusing (S or C), shooting (single or burst), etc. Of course, anything else you guys/gals have to offer that'll help me continue to learn/grow is always appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

One addendum: When I wrote "pics of kids," I should've written "my kids and kids of our friends."

Second addendum: Thanks for all of the caveats - believe me, well aware of those. Pics would be at our n'hood pool, where everybody knows everybody else.

If anybody has any practical technical suggestions, I'd love to read them...thanks again.

Last edited by AlphaGAK20D; 06-01-2009 at 04:39 PM.

Mann · 06-01-2009, 12:24 PM

People might mistake you for some creep taking pictures of children!

But now serious. For what it's worth... I'd just observe well and position myself in spots from which I think good shots could be made. Like shots of someone jumping from a springboard. A shot of someone impacting the water after a wild jump. Stuff like that. I'd also, since it's a wet place, take good care of my equipment.

and · 06-01-2009, 12:28 PM

watching the direction of the sun, using a flash for fill, getting a polarizer filter?

Alfisti · 06-01-2009, 01:16 PM

I almost guarantee you're going to absolutelty FREAK OUT most parents.

I was taking macro photos in a public park and had my camera pointing at the ground the entire time and i was dead set acosted by anyone within eye shot asking what i was doing and who am I and what not. Bunch of freaks.

Cosmo · 06-01-2009, 01:25 PM

Shoot manual.

Thesorus · 06-01-2009, 02:11 PM

if at a public pool, ask for permissions before even thinking about taking pictures; even here, in Quebec, which is quite more liberal than most places, taking pictures is mostly prohibited.

But, as it can happen, YMMV.

sebberry · 06-01-2009, 02:33 PM

This thread reminds me of the photos that my friend took of her niece/nephew under water with one of those Olympus waterproof cameras.

**Ex Finn.** · 06-01-2009, 03:18 PM

I should have read the whole post, never mind.

Cheers. Mike.

EricT · 06-01-2009, 04:51 PM

Shoot manual, this way you can find a setting that will work by trial and error and just stick to it. Manual white balance as well, or just shoot RAW and fix it in PP.
Fill flash definitely helps.

Arpe · 06-01-2009, 05:12 PM

Polariser.

X Man · 06-01-2009, 05:33 PM

+1 on the polarizer. It's needed to cut all the reflections and glare.

Regards,
Mike

alohadave · 06-01-2009, 09:18 PM

Shoot with the sun to your back and you'll eliminate the need for a polarizer for most of your shots.

AlphaGAK20D · 06-02-2009, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by Mann

People might mistake you for some creep taking pictures of children!

But now serious. For what it's worth... I'd just observe well and position myself in spots from which I think good shots could be made. Like shots of someone jumping from a springboard. A shot of someone impacting the water after a wild jump. Stuff like that. I'd also, since it's a wet place, take good care of my equipment.

Thanks for the reminders...

Originally posted by and

watching the direction of the sun, using a flash for fill, getting a polarizer filter?

Thanks for the suggestion re: flash - might try a few shots this way; also comes to mind that it might be a good place to play with the 5-in-1 reflector

Originally posted by Alfisti

I almost guarantee you're going to absolutelty FREAK OUT most parents.

I was taking macro photos in a public park and had my camera pointing at the ground the entire time and i was dead set acosted by anyone within eye shot asking what i was doing and who am I and what not. Bunch of freaks.

Yeah...in this day and age, I'm very careful when photographing in a public place where children are present and usually go out of my way to engage folks and let them know who I am, point out my own kids, etc.

Originally posted by Cosmo

Shoot manual.

I really love AV, but need to shoot more M...

Originally posted by Thesorus

if at a public pool, ask for permissions before even thinking about taking pictures; even here, in Quebec, which is quite more liberal than most places, taking pictures is mostly prohibited.

But, as it can happen, YMMV.

N'hood pool and small n'hood where everybody's connected, so no worries..

AlphaGAK20D · 06-02-2009, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by sebberry

This thread reminds me of the photos that my friend took of her niece/nephew under water with one of those Olympus waterproof cameras.

Wish I had one - sounds like fun!

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

I should have read the whole post, never mind.

Cheers. Mike.

Back at you, Mike.

Originally posted by EricT

Shoot manual, this way you can find a setting that will work by trial and error and just stick to it. Manual white balance as well, or just shoot RAW and fix it in PP.
Fill flash definitely helps.

Thanks - I do shoot RAW and will definitely play with the flash and reflector...

Originally posted by Arpe

Polariser.

Thanks

Originally posted by X Man

+1 on the polarizer. It's needed to cut all the reflections and glare.

Regards,
Mike

Thanks, Mike...have one for the 18-55mm, need to get one for the 105mm...

AlphaGAK20D · 06-02-2009, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by alohadave

Shoot with the sun to your back and you'll eliminate the need for a polarizer for most of your shots.

Thanks, Dave...will try this as well.

06-01-2009, 11:32 AM	#1
AlphaGAK20D Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alpharetta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 302	Thoughts on taking pics of kids at the pool? With summer break in full swing, I've got a feeling we'll be at the n'hood pool quite a bit during the coming months and would like feedback re: settings/things to keep in mind when shooting, so I give myself the best possible shot at getting some nice/fun shots. With so many reflective surfaces in play, I'm interested in hearing about metering, focusing (S or C), shooting (single or burst), etc. Of course, anything else you guys/gals have to offer that'll help me continue to learn/grow is always appreciated. Thanks in advance! One addendum: When I wrote "pics of kids," I should've written "my kids and kids of our friends." Second addendum: Thanks for all of the caveats - believe me, well aware of those. Pics would be at our n'hood pool, where everybody knows everybody else. If anybody has any practical technical suggestions, I'd love to read them...thanks again. Last edited by AlphaGAK20D; 06-01-2009 at 04:39 PM.

06-01-2009, 12:24 PM	#2
Mann Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 124	Be careful... People might mistake you for some creep taking pictures of children! But now serious. For what it's worth... I'd just observe well and position myself in spots from which I think good shots could be made. Like shots of someone jumping from a springboard. A shot of someone impacting the water after a wild jump. Stuff like that. I'd also, since it's a wet place, take good care of my equipment.

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06-01-2009, 12:28 PM	#3
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476	watching the direction of the sun, using a flash for fill, getting a polarizer filter?

06-01-2009, 01:16 PM	#4
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	I almost guarantee you're going to absolutelty FREAK OUT most parents. I was taking macro photos in a public park and had my camera pointing at the ground the entire time and i was dead set acosted by anyone within eye shot asking what i was doing and who am I and what not. Bunch of freaks.

06-01-2009, 01:25 PM	#5
Cosmo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 488	Shoot manual.

06-01-2009, 02:11 PM	#6
Thesorus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal (Canada) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 200	if at a public pool, ask for permissions before even thinking about taking pictures; even here, in Quebec, which is quite more liberal than most places, taking pictures is mostly prohibited. But, as it can happen, YMMV.

06-01-2009, 02:33 PM	#7
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	This thread reminds me of the photos that my friend took of her niece/nephew under water with one of those Olympus waterproof cameras.

06-01-2009, 03:18 PM	#8
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	I should have read the whole post, never mind. Cheers. Mike.

06-01-2009, 04:51 PM	#9
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	Shoot manual, this way you can find a setting that will work by trial and error and just stick to it. Manual white balance as well, or just shoot RAW and fix it in PP. Fill flash definitely helps.

06-01-2009, 05:12 PM	#10
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Polariser.

06-01-2009, 05:33 PM	#11
X Man Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 478	+1 on the polarizer. It's needed to cut all the reflections and glare. Regards, Mike

06-01-2009, 09:18 PM	#12
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Shoot with the sun to your back and you'll eliminate the need for a polarizer for most of your shots.

06-02-2009, 07:04 AM	#13
AlphaGAK20D Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alpharetta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 302 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mann People might mistake you for some creep taking pictures of children! But now serious. For what it's worth... I'd just observe well and position myself in spots from which I think good shots could be made. Like shots of someone jumping from a springboard. A shot of someone impacting the water after a wild jump. Stuff like that. I'd also, since it's a wet place, take good care of my equipment. Thanks for the reminders... Originally posted by and watching the direction of the sun, using a flash for fill, getting a polarizer filter? Thanks for the suggestion re: flash - might try a few shots this way; also comes to mind that it might be a good place to play with the 5-in-1 reflector Originally posted by Alfisti I almost guarantee you're going to absolutelty FREAK OUT most parents. I was taking macro photos in a public park and had my camera pointing at the ground the entire time and i was dead set acosted by anyone within eye shot asking what i was doing and who am I and what not. Bunch of freaks. Yeah...in this day and age, I'm very careful when photographing in a public place where children are present and usually go out of my way to engage folks and let them know who I am, point out my own kids, etc. Originally posted by Cosmo Shoot manual. I really love AV, but need to shoot more M... Originally posted by Thesorus if at a public pool, ask for permissions before even thinking about taking pictures; even here, in Quebec, which is quite more liberal than most places, taking pictures is mostly prohibited. But, as it can happen, YMMV. N'hood pool and small n'hood where everybody's connected, so no worries..

06-02-2009, 07:06 AM	#14
AlphaGAK20D Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alpharetta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 302 Original Poster	Originally posted by sebberry This thread reminds me of the photos that my friend took of her niece/nephew under water with one of those Olympus waterproof cameras. Wish I had one - sounds like fun! Originally posted by Ex Finn. I should have read the whole post, never mind. Cheers. Mike. Back at you, Mike. Originally posted by EricT Shoot manual, this way you can find a setting that will work by trial and error and just stick to it. Manual white balance as well, or just shoot RAW and fix it in PP. Fill flash definitely helps. Thanks - I do shoot RAW and will definitely play with the flash and reflector... Originally posted by Arpe Polariser. Thanks Originally posted by X Man +1 on the polarizer. It's needed to cut all the reflections and glare. Regards, Mike Thanks, Mike...have one for the 18-55mm, need to get one for the 105mm...

06-02-2009, 07:07 AM	#15
AlphaGAK20D Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alpharetta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 302 Original Poster	Originally posted by alohadave Shoot with the sun to your back and you'll eliminate the need for a polarizer for most of your shots. Thanks, Dave...will try this as well.

Thoughts on taking pics of kids at the pool?

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