Everywhere and nowhere
Sometimes I chance across something to photograph other than boats. It’s often a welcome break, and the more obscure the better. Chancing across an ad for the Plymouth Triathlon earlier this year, I decided to stop by. It's a sport I used to enjoy and competed briefly at London, Blenheim and even Plymouth! Even better this event was trying a new location just across the river, at Edgecumbe Park.
Triathlon is a fantastic sport, but hard to photograph. So many elements are happening almost simultaneously, 'where' to be with the camera is a challenge. Arriving early, I caught sight of another photographer in a high vis vest with ‘media’, festooned with kit, so safely assumed he was the official guy for the day. Rather him than me as I remember buying the complete photo package from the London Tri where competitors are caught just after the swim, on the ride then the run. It’s impossible to cover solo!
Leaving the pro phot to sweat the task in hand, I wondered where to be on the course and chose the beach to try and capture the exit of the swimmers, the moment of emerging from the water. The swim is not normally the most popular element, so I knew that most people would emerge very tired and perhaps a little emotional! But there's that moment of emergence, and finding the seabed to stagger up the beach into transition one.
I was lucky, so many waves of swimmers, most clearly enduring the swim rather than relishing it, I set up the 300mm prime wide open to track the exit. What I caught were many tired and relieved competitors stumbling out of the water, the prime freezing the water dripping off contorted facial expressions as goggles were ripped off, a moment of orientation [where next?] and watches checked for progress.
For balance I shot a few of transition and of the ride and run, also capturing the joy of finishing. Uploading some shots that evening, I was very surprised to be called the following day by the organiser not only wanting to use one swim exit shot for next years promo ad, but also asking me to shoot the event as the official event photographer!
Sometimes, photography is about compromise, there’s always another spot that might yield a better photo. But sometimes you get lucky by refining the shot, taking a punt and going for the sweat and the smile..
Image - Plymouth Triathlon 2023. Canon 5d Mk3, 300mm wide open!
