Photographing a sporting event always means being ready for the unexpected. But when it comes to an aquathlon, the challenge doubles: you’re dealing with constant changes in speed, angles, and environment. One second you’re capturing a dive into the water, and the next, you’re tracking a fast-moving athlete, with splashes threatening your lens and shifting light testing your exposure settings.
I was invited by the Cuban National Triathlon Team to cover one of their events, and from the very beginning I knew it wouldn’t be easy. The mix of adrenaline, strategy, and endurance among the competitors creates a unique atmosphere: the tense silence before the dive, the explosion of water under each jump, and the controlled breathing breaking the surface with every stroke.
On the technical side, I worked with my Canon 5D Mark III and two key tools:
• Canon 70-300 mm, which allowed me to close in on the action from a distance, capturing gestures and moments with surgical precision.
• Praktica 135 mm f/2.8, a manual lens that demands fine focus and anticipation, but rewards you with a distinctive visual character, perfect for isolating the athlete in the middle of aquatic chaos.
The daylight, although generous, wasn’t always friendly: the harsh reflection off the water required precise exposure control to avoid losing highlight detail, while the contrast between the cool blues of the sea and the vibrant reds of the uniforms demanded careful color balance.
Beyond the technical aspects lies what can’t be measured in f-stops or shutter speeds: emotion. Witnessing the determination in an athlete’s eyes as they leap into the water, feeling the muffled thud of a dive, and hearing the cheers from the shoreline is to live the sport from the inside. Every shot I took aimed to convey that; the strain felt in the muscles, the focus etched on their faces, and the story beating behind every competitor.
This is more than just a visual record; it’s a tribute to those who train day after day to give their best in just a few minutes of competition. And it’s also proof that sports photography is as much a technical challenge as it is an exercise in empathy; putting yourself in the athlete’s place to know when and how to capture the decisive moment.
