I confess that I have not had a great deal of opportunity to see much of the Olympics this year. However, what I have seen has been the usual. Spectacular effort by the world’s amateur athletes (well mostly amateur anyway). It is always impressive to see that effort, and the payoff at the end; especially when that effort results in a medal winning performance.
As a photographer myself, I have been dazzled with many of the shots taken during the games. The moments frozen in time, and leaving a large impression of the power of those moments. Those are the shots that are photo journalism at it’s finest.
Documenting the moments of defeat are, at times, just as important to document for the moment as are the victories. I am having issue with some of the shots I have seen on TV though. Shots of photographers standing just a couple of feet away as a gymnast loses her composure after a poor performance, for example. They are so close that there is no where she can possibly hide to collect herself. Other shots I have seen as a runner collapses to the ground exhausted or completely enveloped in the moment, and they are swarmed by many lenses just a short distance away looking to get that shot.
On the other side of that lens though, I really must commend these kids and their composure. They handle the indignities that these moments are providing with a grace worthy of these Olympics, and my hat is off to them.
Welcome to the digital age. Technology has stripped away poignant and replaced it with sensationalist “shock” photography. Rather than sports photojournalists, these people often resemble mobs of paparazzi swarming the next great celebrity of the moment.
Related articles
- Olympic Photography (coolhunting.com)
- Want to Cover the Olympics as a Photographer? Forget About It! (blogs.photopreneur.com)
- Even A ‘No’ Is An Olympic Moment When It’s Said By Michael Phelps (wnyc.org)
- Large Format Sports Photographer Seen at Olympic Gymnastics (petapixel.com)
Mike’s Take 