Canadian National Swim Trials
I shot five days of Swimming Canada trials last week and by day two I was starting to get a sense of the pool and began to see beyond the obvious. There was the challenge of photographing the targeted list of swimmers and on day one the speed at which the events were run were much quicker than I was used shooting rowing regattas.
The swimmers of the upcoming heat race were diving into their lanes overtop of the swimmers from the previous race. In 100m races things were happening very quickly and it was easy to lose track of which swimmers where in the pool. I missed a few at the start but having the athletes names and lanes highlighted and voice tagging throughout was helpful in naming the photos correctly following the races.
The lens longer lenses I used throughout the week were the 600mm f/4 for the morning sessions and the 300mm f/2.8 for the evening finals. The six was good for tight in action when the pool was a bit brighter and the three was good for the jubilation during the finals. When I realized how close I could position myself relative to the athletes I enjoyed using the 50mm 1.2.
These trials were such a contrast to the Rio Olympics were I had to arrive and plan hours in advance to secure a photo position. Shooting at the Olympic made me appreciate much more the opportunity I have to make photographs at local and National events like this one.
For those interested in having a look at all the photos from the competition the link is at the bottom of the post.
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 5, 2017- Sarah Darcel of Island Swimming and Claremont Secondary Grade 12 student puts on her swim cap during a training session prior to the Canadian National Swim Trials at Commonwealth Pool in Victoria B.C. Canada on Wednesday April 5th, 2017. Swimmers usually wear an inner latex cap and an outer silicone cap in competition. One, to secure their goggles and two, the inner latex cap sticks to the head better while the outer silicone cap maintains shape and does not wrinkle as much causing less drag.
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 5, 2017- Penny Oleksiak during a morning training session prior to the Canadian National Swim Trials at Commonwealth Pool in Victoria B.C. Canada on Wednesday April 5th, 2017. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, Olekisiak became the first Canadian to win four medals in the same Summer Games and Canada’s youngest Olympic champion, with a gold in the 100 m freestyle, a silver in the 100 m butterfly, and two bronzes in the women’s freestyle relays (4×100 m and 4×200 m). (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 5, 2017- Penny Oleksiak puts on hand paddles during a morning training session prior to the Canadian National Swim Trials at Commonwealth Pool in Victoria B.C. Canada on Wednesday April 5th, 2017. Hand paddles can help develop the upper body strength needed to generate an effective pull for high-speed swimming. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Kylie Masse and other swimmers stop swimming and stand in the warm up pool during the singing of the Canadian National anthem prior to the start of the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 6, 2017- Athletes stand on the blocks before jumping into the water for the start of the Women’s 100m backstroke event at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Wednesday April 6th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 6, 2017- Mackenzie Paddington of Island Swimming and grade 12 Claremont Secondary School student spits water into the air prior to the 400 metre freestyle event at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Wednesday April 6th, 2017. Paddington exceeded expectations winning the event posting a time of 4:09.04 qualifying her for the FINA World Championships this summer in Budapest. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 6, 2017- Kylie Masse following the Women’s 100m backstroke event at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Wednesday April 6th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Yuri Kisil receives a massage following his race in the 100m freestyle heat at Swimming Canada National Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Richie Stokes checks his googles prior the the first heat of the Men’s 400m individual medley at the Swimming Canada National Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Kylie Masse surfaces following the start of the fourth heat of the Women’s 50 meter backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Penny Oleksiak smiles while cooling down from her heat in the Women’s 100m freestyle event at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Kylie Masse smiles after finishing first in the Women’s 50 meter backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 7, 2017- Kylie Masse rings out her hair prior to an on deck interview after finishing first in the Women’s 50 meter backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Friday April 7th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Rebecca Smith drives to the wall in the 2nd heat of the Women’s 100 meter butterfly at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Mackenzie Flowers reaches for the wall in the fourth heat of the Men’s 100m Butterfly at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Kylie Masse dives into the water following the start of the Women’s 200 meter backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Kylie Masse approaches the first turn in the Women’s 200 meter backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Johanna Roas checks her time in the Women’s 50 meter Breaststroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Mabel Zavaros stands in the holding room prior to the start of the Women’s 100m Butterfly final at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Penny Oleksiak adjusts her goggles while standing on the starting blocks prior to the start of the Women’s 100m Butterfly final at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Penny Oleksiak dives into the water for the start of the Women’s 100m Butterfly final at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- A young girl from the Comox Valley Aquatic Club washes Penny Oleksiak at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Penny Oleksiak and Katerine Savard walk toward the cool down pool following the final of the Women’s 100m Butterfly final at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 8, 2017- Hillary Caldwell has her blood lactate level tested following the final of the Women’s 200m backstroke at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Saturday April 8th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 9, 2017- Jade Hannah leaves the Island Swim club zone prior to her race in the Women’s 200m butterfly at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Sunday April 9th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 9, 2017- Marcus Thormeyer gets out of the pool following his heat in the Men’s 50 meter freestyle event at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Sunday April 9th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 9, 2017- Penny Oleksiak prepares for the B final of the Women’s 50m freestyle which she qualified for swimming the butterfly at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Sunday April 9th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 6, 2017- Kylie Masse and Hillary Caldwell celebrate following their backstroke race in which they both qualified for the World Championships in Hungary at the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Wednesday April 6th, 2017. (KEVIN LIGHT)
VICTORIA, B.C.: APRIL 9, 2017- Retired Canadian Olympian Ryan Cochrane watches the scoreboard during the Swimming Canada National Swim Trials at Saanich Commonwealth Pool in Victoria British Columbia Canada on Sunday April 9th, 2017. Cochrane holds the Canadian record in the 1500 meter at 14:39.63. This years winner Eric Hendlin posted a time of 15:08.35 fast enough to qualify for the 2017 World Championships in Hungary. (KEVIN LIGHT)
Link to full photo gallery