Courts77

Everyone at the Olympics has their own experience from the volunteers that help with all the logistics, athletes participating in the games, fans who cheer to the photographers and media who try and capture every angle.  

It all sounds so beautiful! But, in reality it’s a lot of hard work, long hours and determination from everyone.

Photographers are only a small piece of the massive puzzle that makes up the Olympics and we hardly compare to athletes, but we sure work hard with long days shooting and even longer nights editing photos with little sleep.

I always say day 3 is the hardest, at that point you’ve worked on adrenaline since the Opening Ceremony, you’ve gone with only a few hours of sleep here and there, but by day 4 you simply need sleep! One good 7-8 hour night or even 6 is essential.

This past week I spent most of my shooting time at Cypress Mountain – it’s where the Moguls, Half Pipe, Ski Cross and Boarder Cross take place.  It’s where a lot of today’s action sport athletes called home.  And, it’s where the legend Shaun White struck gold and the hearts of millions and where Torah Bright made Australia proud amongst other great accomplishments.

Today is day 12 and I’m feeling okay….again, finally.  

I was tired at Day 3 but it was day 6 when I fell sick with a cold which led to a sinus infection and a sore body.  I think it was after the 9 hours of standing out in the cold holding my position shooting the men’s half pipe – getting shots of the Flying Tomato, which was well worth it, that eventually did me in!

I’m not complaining, I love coming to the Olympics to work as a photographer, it’s my forth Olympic Games - how else can I get a front row seat to the world’s best sporting accomplishments. It’s when the entire world is watching and it’s not just about the athlete but the country in which they stand for. Pride pushes people to do amazing things!

But if you’re thinking its all glamour…here’s a sample day in my life during the Winter Olympics.  

I wake up, organise my gear, put on layers of snow weather clothes and hop on a 15min bus ride to a 30min train ride to another 50min bus ride, hike a small hill with 30 pounds of gear and then jump on one more bus for 10min and I’m at Cypress Media Center.  If I’m heading up the mountain I still have another 250 stairs to conquer – get’s the heart pumping!

A few hours have gone by and I still haven’t shot one photo.  Once I’m there I check in, put some gear in my locker and head out to the slopes.  If I’m early I still have pick of some of the photo positions (early means more than two hours before the event begins).  If I’m there an hour before, “I get to fit in where I can get in”.  Girl or not people are most likely not going to move over for you.

Depending on the event, you shoot tons of photos (at lest 500+) for a few hours…(9 hours for the Half Pipe) as they work their way through qualifications, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals and you brave the outdoors and cold.  During the Women’s Moguls we had pouring freezing rain and during the Women’s Ski Cross we had a snow blizzard.

Essential items to have at all times: (I’ve learned!)
1.    Hand Warmers (a few packs for various areas – I found putting them in your bra works well!)
2.    Several pairs of gloves (as they get wet, the colder they get and when you can’t feel your fingers it’s really hard to shoot!)
3.    Warm hat
4.    Neck warmer (A dickie or scarf just seems to help keep you warm!)
5.    Good snow boots (I bought a great pair from Helly Hansen…Love them!) Once your feet get cold your body starts to follow and standing on snow for hours seems to do the trick)
6.    Snacks (I just learned this lesson – once your in position you can’t really leave…and you get hungry and thirsty)
7.    Lens wipe (With the rain and snow your lens is bound to get fogged or wet and you need a soft lens wipe to clean it)

Only a few more days left and I’m going to make the most of it! So far I’ve shot Moguls, Halfpipe, Snowboard Cross, Ski Cross and Short Track Speed Skating. I’m looking forward to getting some Curling, Hockey, Snowboard Giant Slalom, Figure Skating, Cross Country Skiing and Bobsleigh in before I leave!

I have manged to have some fun, too! Granville Street is a lot of fun with lots of fans gathering in the street and enjoying all the night clubs and restaurants on offer.  Canada is amazing and the spirit of the Canadian people is infectious.  What a great country!

Off to catch some Z’s before tomorrow begins!