Ever wondered how Olympic photographers regularly manage to shoot such astounding images? More so when the action is unfolding at such an expeditious rate. Well it’s time to throw a little light on their tricks and unveil some of their secrets.
Be Fast and Attentive: Obviously, everything that goes on in the Olympics is bound to happen at tremendous speed. This is why it is important to always be ready for a shot and to have the right presence of mind about it. Even sports such as weight lifting and javelin throw, which happen at a comparatively slower rate than other sports, are still way faster than what normal photographers are accustomed to shooting. Most Olympic photographers are usually ready with the right camera equipment and other accessories within reach. They take up the right positions to shoot pictures at will and also ensure that they are in a position to move about freely. Once done with capturing a particular event, they upload it immediately onto their laptops and go about post processing their images. It’s important that these photographers mail their pictures to their agencies, publications, or dailies at the earliest, with little or no time lapse between duration that the events are telecast live on television. On an average, seasoned Olympic photographers post process and send out about 100 to 150 images per day.
Photo Credits - Matt Slocum/ The Associated Press Remain Abreast With the Competition: With the wealth of talent behind the camera lenses at the Olympics, it’s understandable that only the best find a market for their images. Plus, with the ever changing scenario and newer methods creeping into the scene every day, it’s also important that photographers keep updating their technologies, equipment, and methodologies. Without question, only those Olympic photographers that keep reinventing themselves while maintaining their signature flair remain successful in the business. A deeper analysis would also reveal another interesting fact that it’s these photographers who regularly update their systems, gear, and other technical methods, and they are also more willing to adapt or rather merge into changing scenarios and demands. Also, Olympic photographers who are really good reserve the right to choose the agencies or publications they deal with. Some prefer dealing with agencies that supply their pictures solely to news channels and dailies, while others might go for agencies dealing with more commercially oriented clients such as magazines and sporting art exhibitors. They are still others who are nifty and versatile enough to be on the roster of multiple types of agencies and clients. 
Photo Credits - Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images
Photo Credits - Charles Krupa/ AP Photo
Instant Creativity: As stated earlier, it’s only the best and those willing to adapt who succeed in the business of Olympic photography. Along with being technically proficient, it’s also necessary to infuse a dash of creativity to your images so that they stand apart from others. This could be done either while shooting the pictures or editing them in post production. However, every Olympic photographer is well aware of the need to be extremely fast, since the action takes place rapidly before them and they also have to edit and send out their photos as quickly as possible. Hence, instant creativity is the need of the hour. The best photographers at the Olympics have a keen eye, a strong sense of their surroundings, always alert, and possess a profound presence of mind. Such skills are acquired over years of practice and experience and eventually they develop the ability to be creative on their feet.
Photo Credits - Andy Wong/ AP Photo 
Photo Credits - Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images
It’s interesting to note that along with their useful bag of tricks it’s also a lot of practice, hard work, and skill that goes into whetting the people’s appetite for realistic imagery of their favorite Olympic games and sporting personalities. The next time you see some dazzling photographs of intense action as it unfolded at the Olympics, just remember some of these tricks of the photographers, which you read up over here.
Via - Gizmodo