Kodak ESP 3 All-in-One Printer on the Early Show
Let the Nations Play...
Dateline Beijing: It all ended just as it began 17 nights ago in the Birds Nest in the Chinese city of Beijing. In 1984 on August 12th the night of the Los Angeles Olympics Closing Ceremonies I was presented a 45 recording of a song called Let the Nations Play. Tonight as the athletes of the XXIX Olympic Summer games celebrated their accomplishments, the first verse kept going through my head: "Let the nations play, let the athletes of the world run free, let sport unite humanity, let the nations play."
Over the past 17 days I hope you have enjoyed the photographs, tales of adventure, photographic techniques and a bit of opinion.
While I had a blast doing this blog, and getting perhaps more than my fair share of "fifteen minutes of fame" it's the athletes who are the stars. My thanks for giving us so many great performances and action to make great pictures of.
Here are some pictures from the last 24 hours of my "Dateline Beijing" adventure:
The Gold Medal games of both women's and men's basketball ...
...and the Closing Ceremonies
Over the next few days it will be packing and flying back to Rochester. I am sure some of you are wondering exactly how many shots I took etc. Stay tuned. My final blog on Beijing will have a dateline of Rochester, with a recap of the 17 day's worth of exploits.
To quote the great American journalist Walter Cronkite: "And that's the way it is."
Richard
The Photon Wrangler
Kodak "Olympicizes" USA House in a BIG way
Various meeting rooms where the USOC conducts it business during the Games have been "Olympicized." Even the table graphics were created by Kodak.
Kodak is doing an incredible volume of printing at these Games. The USOC is one recipient of the services, others include sponsors, other national organizing committees, Getty Images and more. It is great to be involved in such a big photo experience, both figuratively and literally!
Ok, everybody into the pool!
Dateline Beijing: Some people say that Synchronized Swimming is not a sport. After spending time at the Water Cube this afternoon, I would take exception!
Imagine combining the grace and pageantry of the Cirque du Soleil with über water aerobics. Add a dash of Ester Williams; that is when she was a movie star. She also happened to be a swimmer who was on the 1940 US Olympic* team. After that she hit the silver screen doing water ballet. Go figure! It was Hollywood at its heyday.
Once you get past the waterproof theatrical makeup, emotional faces, nose clips and gobs of hair gel, what these swimmers do in the pool is simply amazing. And at times it drives them to exhaustion.
If by chance you ever get the chance photograph this SPORT, take a medium-length zoom and blast away... it's fun.
Oh yes, Argentina captured the Gold in Men's Football
* The games got cancelled that year due to the start of World War II
Happily treading water
Richard
The Photon Wrangler
Green and Yellow - Red, White and Blue...
Dateline Beijing: It was a late night and an early morning. The new day started as the night had ended, with the USA against Brazil in a gold medal final. It was the USA Women's football team that took the gold last evening and in Beach Volleyball it was the men's turn to take the top podium spot.
At the football game I tried something that I rarely do, that is use a tele extender at night. Here in Beijing the lighting is fantastic and being able to go the ISO 6400 gave me the freedom to experiment. Not all the shots were done that way, but you have to look really close to tell the difference. So instead of a 200-400mm zoom what I had was more of a 350-600mm zoom! (or in that range, I was using a 1.7x converter for those of you who are mathematically inclined).
One thing I found out shooting soccer, oops FOOTBALL for everyone but us Americans, is you can't have a long enough lens! They do get close, so make sure you can either zoom back or grab something shorter.
This morning it was off to the BEACH (Ok the sand stadium) for the Gold medal game between the USA and (yes once again) Brazil. The men's game is more of a power game both on offense and defense, so hammered spikes* and roofs** not to mention the occasional six pack*** were on ample display.
And lastly there is the Modern Pentathlon - a sport where you; Run, Swim, Fence, Shoot and Ride a horse. These have to be the gutsiest of all Olympic Athletes. After all you're probably not going to do yourself any personal damage, Unless you get hit by a car while running, eaten by a shark while swimming, stabbed while fencing, or shot in the foot by an off-the-mark bullet. It's the truly brave that enter the Show Jumping Arena on a horse they first encountered 10 minutes earlier; things are bound to be awkward.
Still high in the saddle
Richard
The Photon Wrangler
Volleyball Definitions
* Spike to hit the ball down past the opponent at a high rate of speed, when done properly it is called a kill.
** Roof: To block a spike
*** Six Pack: When the blocker misses the roof and blocks the ball with his or her face. The blocker must then purchase and share a six-pack, of a cool beverage, with his or her teammates.
