I have a colleague who works with old people on the weekends. She does excercise with them in a 10x15m heated pool and I am considering going along to take some photos of them as a sort of portrait and situ study project for myself.
If I do it, I plan to shoot b/w with analogue only. I just don't want to get into the water with 2 of my favourite cams, so have to shoot from the edge of the pool. I don't have any zoom lens, and might take the opportunity to invest in one.
Any pointers on a lens to get me closer to the subjects without going over the top?
Lighting issues by the pool. I worry that the light may be strange there. Anyone have any experience with something similar?
Thanks :)

I have been told that portraits are best done from between 50mm-90mm but that is only a guideline. But i love to have a good wider angle lens at all times. (28mm or so)

Make sure you get permission from the people to do this, it may make them uncomfortable and you may want to bring along model release forms if you plan on using the images of these people in any public or commercial application.

Depending on if you want head shots or full body shots and what distance you are shooting at.

You will probably want a 100mm-200mm lens with a fast aperture like 2.8 or better.

The faster aperture will help you seperate your subject from the surroundings and if indoors will help with the low light.

If you are wanting portaits for example and your subject is 3-5m away then a 300mm F2.8 would be perfect and allow you to blur anything more than a foot or two in front and behind.

A 135mm F1.8 may be ideal for your needs but will cost more than your typical F5.6 lens. Using the same example above a 135mm would probably get you a whole body shot at the same distance and even at F1.8 you would still get a greater depth of field than the 300mm at F2.8 (which is probably not a good thing).

I would suggest a fixed lens or a zoom.

If you crouch or lay down you should be able to get a pretty good angle. Also the longer your lens the better as you will be further away from your subject allowing a lower angle. Also you will be less prominent.

If you want to shoot through the water you will want a polarizer to cut glare/reflections, especailly if you are shooting at a low angle.

I would expect needing a 800 to 1600 speed film, maybe faster if you have a poor quality (slow) lens and/or are using a polarizer.