Personal Journey and Adventures of Nina

Just for a change I thought I put all of the highlights together into a short video for you! This annual meet at SOPAC Olympic Park Aquatic Centre is always a lot of fun. I saw kids from different teams hugging each other throughout the event. Despite the torturous 6 days and nights of heats and finals, the kids never tired. Although I surely did! There was also plenty of opportunity for some great action shots because we have the best in the State here at the event so technique is pretty good by now. The greatest highlight for me was watching the legend Chris Fydler swim so watch out for this post! Speedo heats next should be an altogether different challenge as the kids are aged 6 years - 13years. See you there! If you would like to see all of the highlights from the State Champs, click here . Nina Beilby is a professional photographer based in Chatswood, Sydney, Australia. You can see more of her work at  www.ninabeilby.com.au .  Social Media:   Facebook |  Twitter

Short course season changes the game for me quite a bit. With only 25 metres to catch a front on Fly shot, I'm lucky if I get one attempt. The older kids (and I mean over 12yrs) get most of the way down the first 25 without a breath. Breaststroke is still ok so long as the swimmer does the slow glide and not the quick bob up and down. Some swimmers do not come out of the water much at all, then they are just a head on top of the water but at these State Champs, we had some pretty stylish swimmers.  The great thing about short course is that we can get pretty close up shots at some points where is would have been almost impossible in long course. If I had to be at the end of the pool ready for the fly, there is no way I would have time to get the dive shot first before running 50m to the end of the pool. Also, even with the 300mm lens, the 50m pool is too long for the backstroke start shot. Poolside shots are one of my favourite to shoot so I was glad that I h

Everyone got into the spirit for the inaugural SMNE Duel In The Pool Meet. Hosted by Knox at Pymble Ladies College pool, each team chose a theme. Disco, Smurfs, Rockstars, Hawaiians and Wizards abound. Even the coaches came dressed up! Despite the miserable weather the swimmers had a blast!  First up was the Mixed Up Relay. Each swimmer drew a card with their stroke order on it. Each race started with the backstroke but a Breastroker could then be racing a Flyer so you don't know who is going to win the race until the very end...the kids LOVED it! All of the following races were mixed so that the girls and boys raced together.. The teams collected points along the way and after each progress announcement, you could hear the whispers, we need to win another few races..etc. Such great team building. There was loads of yelling from the stands too..good job parents and grandparents.   Can't wait for the next meet! Smurfs help with timing!     Cheering on her t

From 7 year olds last weekend at the Summer Sprints to the "big kids" at this NSW LC Qualifying Meet. The biggest difference.....SPLASH! Bigger and stronger, these guys make a mess of the pool.  The races are tighter so I have to try to shoot through the leg splash of the swimmer in the parallel lane to the one I'm aiming for then try to focus through their arm splash! A lot of dead images but still some good ones! What is cool about these guys is their experience and style makes them so beautiful to watch. So streamlined, flexible and powerful! More images are on my website. Just click here . See you at the District Championships!

The stars of tomorrow were at this meet. It is so much fun to watch them swim. Some as young as 7 years of age swim with such style only seen with older swimmers. Some great dives and lovely strokes, all attributed to the quality coaching for certain as well as some definite natural talent. Though what I like the most about the District Meets - The SMILES!!!  You can see the rest of the images on my website. Just click here . If you would like to see more of my portrait work, just go to my here . Thanks for visiting my blog!!

This was a terrific meet. Firstly, I loved watching the littlest kids swim. Secondly, this was the first meet where I had a second photographer. It was fabulous because it was like there were two of me. He was able to get shots that I cannot possible get because I have to be positioned ready to take the action photo. He got some some terrific behind the blocks images, so close that you can see the anxiety in the swimmers face! He also has a different eye to me so he got some angles that I hadn't thought of...awesome! I had the loan of the Canon 1D X and it was phenomenal in the low light. In addition, I had rented the 300mm fixed lens. A big heavy lens but it forced me to use my monopod which my physiotherapist was delighted about! It allowed me to get really close without loosing any sharpness. It takes a while to get used to but it is worth it. Sadly, my Canon 5D Mark II stopped working...ouch! I was unable to take the presentation photos whic

Short course season means that it is not so far to run from one side of the pool to the other. I guess it is not very safe to run but as the ultimate people pleaser, I feel compelled to get the shot for my client. Alas, I am going to have to learn to slow down before I end up in the pool! The lighting was horrid as usual. Even worse this time because it was it was hampered by clouds and the majority of my light is natural. Of course, when the sun finally came out, the officials, understandably, ordered the blinds down because the reflection off the water means they cannot see the strokes and turns. We did our best as usual. Canon have promised the use of their new  1D X camera  and  70-200mm lens  which both promise amazing quality in low light so we will see. We may have some new equipment for the Long Course Season...stay tuned! The portraits were a lot of fun! LOVE shooting portraits...I don't have to run anywhere!