One could approach the topic of swimming from the popular stereotype of the sports photographer in which case I'd be auditioning fast as fast can be cameras like the Sony Alpha One or the Nikon Z9. In that case I'd also have a bunch of fast 100-600mm f2.8 sports lenses to try out --- even though, to my knowledge, no one even makes such a beast. I could take a page from David Burnett and try shooting moving athletes with a Speed Graphic or something like that. Or I could channel my inner Annie Leibovitz and set up a bunch of lighting at the pool with which to make black and white portraits of swimmers (while praying no one gets electrocuted....) but I think I'll stick to the way I like to shoot and just be.....leisurely about it.
After a total immersion year of nothing but Leica, Leica, Leica I'm suddenly interested in a much more basic and unwieldy camera; the Sigma fp. Which I have coupled with some of those Zeiss ZM lenses I picked up a few weeks ago, along with some of those Voigtlander lenses I bought more recently. The camera is slow to use, slow to focus and I have the choice between Scylla and Charybdis of either using the back screen in dirty baby diaper hold or using the huge and ungainly optical loupe that Sigma makes for the camera. Haven't decided just yet.
There are many detractions to using the fp. I'd start with fruit fly level battery life. Then go to sloooow AF. Segue to a boxy and uncomfortable set of haptics when not using a bunch of add-on prosthetics and finish up with eccentric menus. But on the plus side the camera is painfully cute, has wonderful, amazing colors and one of the lowest noise sensors I've ever played with. So, not all bad. Not at all.
I've owned one since they were introduced and for the life of me I can't seem to get rid of it or sell it or just leave it in a sock drawer. It's an addictive package. And an antithetical choice for a month of swim articles which is probably why I am so interested in using it for that.
Male model above holding the Sigma fp complete with an ancient Canon 50mm f1.8 FD manual focus lens. Might just be the perfect lens for an artistic project comprised of swimmers and swimming pools. Expanded, maybe, to even include lakes.
Translation for the the nuance deprived: Not really going to do a month of swim articles. Just annoyed in the moment. It'll pass.
