Rick Womer wrote:
Bob,
I've done a fair amount of ski photography.
<snip>
For shooting races, I've most recently used my PZ-1p
and 80-320 zoom. There is no way to ski with this
gear, whether in a backpack, waist pack, or chest
pack, without feeling off-balance. Falling is
painful. I use my Lowepro Off-Road bag, which rides
in front of me on the chair lift; once off the lift I
heave it around to be a fanny pack.
On my most recent ski excursion (my wife's first time skiing, but my
150th probably) I used a fanny bag (a Tamrac convertible). It worked
out fine, but I knew we would be sticking to terrain where I wouldn't
risk falling. I've used a small camera backpack a few times skiing too.
That's a little safer for falling (usually you fall onto your butt,
not your back). Either way, I haven't ever felt that the bag threw me
out of balance. Most recently, I carried the *ist-DS, 16-45, 135, and a
flash. But as I mentioned in an earlier email, I wouldn't recommend a
beginner carry a camera.
<snip>
The third problem is exposure. Slides are tough.
Spot-metering the trees in the background or some
clear blue sky overhead, and locking the exposure, has
worked well for me.
I find the biggest problem to be exposing the shot correctly when the
snow is eight stops brighter than the subject (that may be an
exaggeration). It's difficult for me to avoid burning out the snow
while still being able to see the expression on my wife's face as she
whooshes by the camera out of control. ;) If you get the shot in close
enough quarters you can use a fill flash, but even that's pretty hard to
get right.
Dave
