Tag Archives: olympics

Slowly slowly the Olympic Games are getting closer. It’s the first time I had the chance to follow, observe and work with some of the top athletes during their preparation. It’s almost impossible to imagine what it really takes in terms of preparation. Probably a good comparison is to imagine to climb a mountain which takes 4 or more years to get to the summit. Not considering what it takes to get a medal.
A huge respect for all who made it and good luck for the games.

On photography side we also need a bit of preparation, ok I admit I got my accreditation already one year ago, not as challenging as athletes, however Olympic games are part of many dreams and there are many photographers who can’t be there.
My accreditation is a valid only for sailing and with the sailing venue so far away from the rest of the games we will see only see. The great thing is that we will be very close, actually closer than coaches or anybody else. During the races the TV and photographers are the only ones who can follow the sailors on the race course.
Shooting in in Weymouth specially on the outside race courses will be a wet job. The waves are big, mostly it rains and the gear is suffering quite hard. This conditions will be even more challenging for the “dry photographers ” non yachting photographers. This is something who happens on big events photographers who normally shoot soccer or other events will be around too.

To have the chance to work alongside with specialist from different areas is very interesting and helps to open the mind and get new ideas. Very impressive to see the speed the “typical” agency photographers have once back in the media center.

Cameras this year I will be working with a Nikon D800 and probably a D4, on the lens side I’m looking forward to work with the 200-400m zoom lens from Nikon. The D800 is a great camera and the over 30 megapixel are giving us a greater flexibility in the post production. The challenge will be the size of files, a 16GB card is full with 200 images.

This games will be much different than 4 years ago in China/Qingdao not only because of the weather, but also about the town. Qingdao was a 6 million city for China quite small but the infrastructure hotels etc. where simply available. The Marina had to be build not so in Weymouth Portland. The marina was there, the village and logistical places have to be build.

The hotels however are a bit of a tragedy and the prices for available beds whet up to the sky. 120 GBP for a bed and breakfast isn’t that a bit too much. I hope that the 50’000 habitats from the region will not be disappointed at the end.

Below you find a few links for images and video related to the upcoming Olympic games. I will also try to write a daily update on Facebook.

Images from Weymouth & Portland

Video with top Olympic Athletes from the ZHIK team

Video from Flavio Marazzi and Enrico de Maria talking about their preparation