Shooting the Fastest Man
As I am sure you have seen on TV, there are a huge number of photographers here. And although most days they dart around from venue to venue, nearly all of them want to shoot the marquee Olympic event: the men’s 100-meter sprint.
Positions are bought and paid for more than a year out. Negotiations for other positions and for remote camera access begin as soon as anyone arrives before the Games and continue practically right up to the starting gun.
Michigan Newphew, can you find your pal Doug?
If you want one of the first-come, first-serve positions you better get there hours ahead of time. Bring your computer and a sandwich. It will be a long wait.
When I got there I was surprised to find positions at track level right at the finish line. It quickly became apparent during a semifinal heat why they were available. The TV camera that follows them down the track finds itself in the middle of your money shot.
So I headed to a more elevated spot just beyond the finish line. Or should I say Finnish line? Sitting next to me was a photographer from Helsinki. It just happens that the brother of my good friend and colleague Mika Gröndahl has a brother who is a photojournalist in Helsinki. I mean, how many can there be in Helsinki? And he indeed knew Mika’s brother and had worked with him at a Helsinki newspaper.
Small world, right Pop?
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- THE FINISH LINE.
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- Near the finish in a 100-meter heat
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- Finish line in a 100-meter heat. TV cameras and all.
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- 100-meter heat, Bolt just looking for friends in the stands!
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- I found Waldo. He is in the high jump. Glasses and all.
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- Photographers facing up the track from beyond the finish line
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- Remote cameras at the finish line
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- Oscar Pistorius, out of the blocks in a 400-meter heat
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- Doug Mills
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- Steeple chase
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- Remote cameras at the finish line
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- My shot of the finish
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- 100-meter final, half way to gold
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- Another view of the remote cameras
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- My new Finnish buddy
Eat at Joe’s 
AMAZING pictures, DM! The high jump and Pistorius ones in particular are incredible.
Wow!! What great pictures. And the story about the Helsinki photographer — so incredible!
I do see Doug. Little disappointed with the Finnish story though. I was thinking blonde bombshell that you would have to sit by for hours.
@ #1 Nephew, I added a picture of the blond bombshell I sat next to for hours.
These pics are great! Good job London correspondent!
So exciting that you were there, DM! And Amy, enjoy Horseguards tonight. Saturday there was fun so I can imagine tonight will be even better!
We’re heading to Table Tennis semifinals in a couple hours… Hong Kong versus South Korea. China is currently winning the other semifinal against Germany, so will take on whoever wins tonight.
I hope you all had a good weekend!
Wow!!
#1 Npwehe, that was hilarious! For those who don’t know the story: When Joe was about twelve, back in the days of Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Michigan sister won this crazy noisemaker thing at a fair. It had a high pitched, eerie, whirring sound. One night after we were all in bed, we kept spinning it around to make the noise. This was the conversation between Joe’s room and ours;
J: What’s that noise?
Us: What noise? (whirrrr)
J: Don’t you hear it?
Us: No, we don’t hear anything! (whirrr)
J: IT’S REALLY A SCARY NOISE!!!
He was absolutely terrified!! So that’s what #1 was referring to when he saw Joe hiding under the covers. Clearly, it still scares him! 🙂
You’re right, Joey, it’s a small world. But you wouldn’t want to paint it!
Was shooting women’s pole vault today for an interactive soon to be up on the Times site.
US woman, Jennifer Suhr won. Upset the Russian.
I added a sequence to the pictures on this post.
if you ask me people who do pole vault are crazy people. Can you imagine practicing this day after day? How do you carry the pole around? How do you pack it?
Speaking of packing, I believe this is Amy’s last day in Olympics Land.
(Were you at Today show yesterday with red shirt and your hair-up? If so, I saw you. If not, you have a twin sister out there.)
You’ve been a blogger par excellence. I’m sure you’re sad to go, and we too will be sadden by
the lack of your presence. Make like Usain Bolt and celebrate all that you’ve done!!!!
Have a safe journey!!
@Joe: Great graphics of Jenn Suhr’s pole vault. Many, many thanks for all you’ve done to give Amy a once in a lifetime experience. She has had an incredible time and will have wonderful memories of this very special trip.
@Leah: Thank you too, for everything you have done to make this such an exciting time for her.
@Joe and Leah: Knowing that both of you were always close by soothed a mother’s fears and concerns about her being in an unfamiliar place.
@Amy: I know you don’t want this dream to end, but we will be so happy to see you and welcome you home!
@Michigan sister: No need to thank me! Kiernans and Wards have/should/will always stuck/stick together!
We’ll do an “Amy’s last dinner in London” somewhere tonight and will report back. I invited Matt Lauer but he told me he’s washing his hair and shopping for some more puffy patterned jackets.
Update on the travels of the picture I took of my new Finnish friend.
I sent the picture to Mika in NY, who sent it to his brother in Finland, who sent it to the guy’s mother, who got a kick out of it.
Believe it or not, weightlifting tonight for me.
GRUUUUUNT!
I just had my own little brush with fame. An elevator ride with Woody Harrelson (quite cute in person) there were a few people in the elevator. He said “I’ll just squeeze in here” (next to moi.) I leave it up to your imagination what I replied. (Hey, it’s been a long month.)
Take that Zsuzsanna.
Woody knows a REAL bombshell when he sees one!
Since Mom said everything that I was going to, just read her post again. But really, THANK YOU!!! It’s been an unbelievable experience, I’m incredibly lucky.
Nicely done, Anne!! I was not at the Today Show, but I’m glad you were looking for me.
I suppose I should start packing, booooo 😦
Great stuff Joe! Yours is the coverage of choice in my home!