Des Burke-kennedy
Des Burke-kennedy has a split second to photograph water sports athletes travelling at speeds of up to 120kph
Water sports fan Des shares the secrets behind his amazing action shots of waterskiing and wakeboarding.
MISSION: Capture fast moments to highlight the extraordinary skills of waterski athletes PHOTOGRAPHER: Des Burke-kennedy LOCATION: Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland KIT USED: Nikon D5, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8
My father had a Rolleiflex, and there was always a camera at home. I was also lucky to be able to travel a lot from a young age. In 2002 I retired from business and became an organizer of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) World Cup Series, and also took on a photography role.
Organizing sporting events is not for the faint of heart – unpredictable weather, fast-moving action and very tight deadlines create an intense atmosphere. Gaining access to the perfect shooting locations comes with experience, and waterskiing offers unique challenges. Safety for photographers is an issue as when crashes happen, they do so quickly. Knowing how to avoid the line of fire requires a good knowledge of the sport’s disciplines, slalom, tricks and jumps. For example, slalom skiers hit speeds of over 100kph.
By the wave side
Robert Pigozzi’s height and exceptional strength often create some stunning water effects [1]. I knew that if I positioned the afternoon sun behind me and set up in a low, safe position on the lake bank, I stood a good chance of capturing his power. It was worth it. He approached me at over 100kph and I used my 70-200mm at full zoom, with an aperture of f/18 and a shutter speed of 1/800 sec to ensure his face would be clear.
The 19-year-old Canadian trick skier Neilly Ross has already been crowned World Champion, Moomba Champion and Nautique Masters Champion. Trick scores are counted over two 20 second passes, often coming down to 1/100 sec to finish within the permitted time. I wanted to capture the moment Neilly succeeds in lifting her ski clear of the tow line, while rotating 180 degrees [2]. The challenge was to select the correct spot on the bank, slightly above Neilly to get a clear view down onto her ski line. The day was dull and overcast, but using a flash would have upset the athlete. I used my Sigma 120-300mm at full zoom and kept the ski line in focus.
I took this [3] at the Moomba Masters in Melbourne, Australia. I wanted to capture the straight arms and body position needed to absorb almost 3G of pressure, while maintaining a strong ski edge and performing a perfect slalom.
The final image [4] is by far the most difficult waterski shot to capture correctly. I had to lie down at water level, look up at a blank sky and wait for the jumper to enter the frame. The subject was travelling at around 120kph, so I had a fraction of a second to get the focus right and ensure the facial features weren’t blown out.