What I’ve learnt about swimming strokes - freestyle
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381925)
Rockingham, Australia
March 1, 2021 4:34pm CST
Recently, we were asked to take photos at a swimming carnival. The events included freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events of varying distances plus relays.
We placed ourselves one each side of the pool. Ideally, we needed to be able to see enough of a face so that the person could be recognised. Freestyle was one of the hardest strokes to photograph. Freestyle swimmers are encouraged to breathe bilaterally; that is, to alternate their breathing on both left and right sides. Some did this but some didn’t. If they didn’t take a breath looking towards me, then I couldn’t get a photo of their face. Hopefully, in that case, Vince would get a photo of those people.
Some breathed every stroke; some alternated left and right every two strokes; others might go four or five strokes between breaths and some breathed side to side randomly. And we had six lanes to try to cover. It was hard to avoid having an arm or water covering their face.
Here are some freestyle photos. You can see in the top right how the arm has covered the face. Lower right shows the great water patterns that sometimes showed up in the photos.
19 people like this
15 responses
@FourWalls (86615)
• United States
2 Mar 21
One lady looks like she's saying, "Don't take my picture, I'm losing!" 
Great photos, and I'm certain the swimmers greatly appreciated you doing that for them, so they have a reminder of their weekend!
Great photos, and I'm certain the swimmers greatly appreciated you doing that for them, so they have a reminder of their weekend!4 people like this
@Fleura (34954)
• United Kingdom
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv I only learned to do backstroke a few years ago. Before that, every time I lifted one arm, the water would run down into my eyes and nose and I would immediately have to stop to cough and splutter. Eventually I decided to have another try; I watched other swimmers and now I have 'got it' and can do it quite comfortably.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
In that case, in a 50 metre race, I'd take your photo; 100 metre Vince would get you going back. lol
I didn't actually see a programme but I think it was just called freestyle. I've heard the term Australian crawl often enough though.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174317)
• United States
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv I agree, you two are REAL photographers. Vince has more technical skill but your photos have more 'life' to them, if that makes sense to you. (In other words, I'd rather see your photos than Vince's... *shrug* So sue me. )
)2 people like this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
Thanks. I'm just very thankful that we did get some good photos. I always get really anxious about my capabilities and keep wanting to tell people I'm not a 'real' photographer but of course you shouldn't be saying that when you're on an assignment!
4 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
2 Mar 21
The Butterfly is my favorite to swim Judy.
I took intense training when I was young. I love it. I miss it.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174317)
• United States
2 Mar 21
Very interesting photos. The water patterns in all four photos are very interesting, to me.
Between the two of you did you catch face photos of every swimmer?
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174317)
• United States
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv 
Oh, I didn't think about what parents might say if you missed getting a good shot of their son/daughter... 
But... did the parents hire you? If not, I know what I'd be telling them if they tried to get upset with me. 
Oh, I didn't think about what parents might say if you missed getting a good shot of their son/daughter...
But... did the parents hire you? If not, I know what I'd be telling them if they tried to get upset with me. 2 people like this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
@DaddyEvil I can't imagine we'll hear from anyone. Some did ask can you be sure to get little Johnny in lane 5 next race so we did our best to accommodate those requests.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Mar 21
Those are good photos. It dont look like it was easy
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv Maybe they could pose in some gel type for pictures. That might help
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
@wolfgirl569 That's a very good idea. I might suggest that next time. 
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122105)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Mar 21
Thank you for sharing the swimming photos. They look great.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122105)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv You are welcome.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
2 Mar 21
Great pictures. Thank you for posting.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (29342)
• Philippines
2 Mar 21
Nice photos! Great job, Judy!
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (29342)
• Philippines
5 Mar 21
@JudyEv Yay!!! Congratulations!!!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
2 Mar 21
sometimes called the Australian Crawl! I swam the crawl in the swim club in Thailand!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
2 Mar 21
@JudyEv i breathe left, otherwise my head turns to much on my dominate side (right). i used to be able to swim a mile or more every day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
@DocAndersen Some of them twisted so much I thought they were going to flip right over.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
2 Mar 21
I never learned to swim. Grew up in Miami, Florida where it was really easy to get to a beach. I went to the beach many times. Just never moved out of the shallow water. Got in, splashed about and got out. My late husband was dumbfounded. He couldn't understand how someone could grow up in Miami and not know how to swim. Eh! It's one of those unsolved mysteries in my life.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381925)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 21
We lived hours from a beach and went once a year for a couple of weeks. While there we had swimming lessons but I never progressed far at all. I have a few unsolved mysteries in my life too. lol
