A different view of the Games
Shooting the Olympics as a photographer can be a tough job. There are the long days, the meticulous preparation, the hours spent at each event. And you can't just shoot the winners -- a global news agency like AFP has clients the world over and they expect photos of their Olympians, even if they finish last.
On top of it all, you are photographing events with dozens, sometimes hundreds of colleagues from across the globe. Getting an original shot in such circumstances can be a challenge. And fun.
You try and capture those offbeat moments:
Americans sweep the women's 100 m hurdles final. From left to right, bronze medallist Kristi Castlin, gold medallist Brianna Rollins and silver medallist Nia Ali. (AFP / Franck Fife)You have to keep track of the news and try and get a picture that tells the entire story :
Amid their war of words over doping, Russia's Yulia Efimova (L) looks on as USA's Lilly King (R) celebrates winning the Women's 100m Breaststroke Final with USA's Katie Meili, who won the bronze.
(AFP / Martin Bureau)It helps to snap a shot that’s worth a thousands words:
Culture clash. Italian and Egyptian beach volleyball players during a qualifying match.
(AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba)You try and get shots that give a different perspective on a familiar sport:
(AFP / Al Bello)
(AFP / Martin Bureau)
(AFP / Martin Bureau)Sometimes it's all in the composition:
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)
(AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)
(AFP / Toshifumi Kitamura)Sometimes it’s a simple move or gesture:
(AFP / Ben Stansall)And you’re always on the lookout for a new, original angle.
To get it, you find innovative spots from where to shoot:
(AFP / Franck Fife)
(AFP / William West)
(AFP / Odd Andersen)Sometimes you just change the angle:
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)Or the perspective:
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)You play around with shutter speed to create ghosts:
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)
(AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)Or put multiple moments in time into a single frame:
(AFP / Fabrice Coffrini)Sometimes you look into the eye of the storm:
(AFP / Jewel Samad)Sometimes you notice something unusual:
Athletes are mirrored in a window during the Women's 50m Freestyle heat. (AFP / Martin Bureau)Or funny:
(AFP / Andrej Isakovic)
(AFP / Johannes Eisele)
(AFP / Philippe Lopez)
(AFP / Christophe Simon)Sometimes you show another side of a sport:
(AFP / Odd Andersen)Or give a feel for its speed:
(AFP / Odd Andersen)
(AFP / Carl De Souza)And sometimes you catch the sun in just the right spot:
(AFP / Odd Andersen)
(AFP / Jeff Pachoud)So the secret for capturing the different views of the Games?
Keeping a sharp eye out:
(AFP / Jim Watson)
