A Paralympic experience

imagemaker46 · Mar 10, 2014

Here are some of the shots so far. Cross Country and Alpine

This is where I shot the skiing from.

imagemaker46 · Mar 10, 2014

Opening ceremony

These were all shot from this point.

imagemaker46 · Mar 10, 2014

Medal ceremony

Photo spot.

These last 2 are from the alpine centre, a little bit of home protection and what the back of the venue that you don't get to see.

Pretty much everything was shot using a Canon 5D Mklll, 300 2.8 1.4. What I did notice is that because Canon and Nikon were lending out gear, a lot of 600mm lenses were being used, and from where I was standing they would have all been too tight on the action, but too each his own. I have been hearing all kinds of photographers asking other photographers how to set their cameras, why doesn't work, turns out the batteries were dead. There are a lot of people here with photo accreditations that are using kit cameras, I shouldn't have been surprised.

vintagesnaps · Mar 10, 2014

Scott these are stunning. Sounds like it's been demanding to say the least (grueling if you ask me!) but these look like it's been worth it. Thanks for showing these.

tirediron · Mar 10, 2014

Nice shots!!

imagemaker46 said:
... There are a lot of people here with photo accreditations that are using kit cameras, I shouldn't have been surprised.

I have to admit, I am!

imagemaker46 · Mar 11, 2014

Definitely not the Olympics, most of the services have really been cut back, Canon and Nikon closed up one of the loan centres, the one I would have had access to, and have shipped a lot of gear out, I would say that 90% of those shooting here are using borrowed gear, which is why so many people are having trouble trying to figure out all the settings and menus, this isn't exactly the best place to try and learn how the camera works. I have to shoot biathlon today and it is now raining, I'm glad I brought along garbage bags and duct tape.

imagemaker46 · Mar 11, 2014

Changing conditions today, pouring rain and heavy fog made for some interesting images, yesterday you could see everything, today, not even the finish line. This is one from up in the woods.

imagemaker46 · Mar 12, 2014

Constant changing weather conditions have made things quite interesting to shoot in. I covered the Alpine events today and while waiting for my bus at 7am I got soaked due to the rain. I wore all my rain gear and thermals just in case it was a little colder on the ski hill, what I did run into was a snow storm I wasn't expecting. I have to say that it was a nice change shooting the winter games in a winter like atmosphere. There were very few spectators up for this event, the slalom. The wide shot of the course is from the photo stand just past the finish of the race, this was at about 8:30am, it never really got much brighter. The two shots are of sit skiers, pretty amazing watching them.

I have to admit I was guessing at some of the exposures, as the snow changed from light to heavy several times.

pixmedic · Mar 12, 2014

Nice Scott!
I would call it more of an "educated guess" than a wild guess looking at the pics.

Braineack · Mar 12, 2014

too bad they are all posted on photobucket and small/artifacted for us to see.

sm4him · Mar 12, 2014

These are terrific, Scott, but then I expected as much from you. I am really enjoying this view of the Paralympics, and your account of the conditions there (not just the weather, but how different it is, organizationally, from the Olympics).

I think it's a shame that the Paralympics *don't* get the kind of coverage and publicity that the "main" Olympics get, because honestly, most of the athletes who compete in the Paralympics are FAR more astounding to me than the others.

imagemaker46 · Mar 12, 2014

Tomorrow offers up another challenge, the alpine slalom is under the lights in the evening, not sure what the weather is calling for, as long as it's not rain and fog again things should be ok. Certainly a new experience for me. I have a few ideas I'd like to try, but it means crampons and a long walk up the course. I think the walking back down will end up being the difficult part.

Derrel · Mar 12, 2014

Thanks for updating us and providing more pics; these will be pretty much THE ONLY Paralympics pictures I will see this year. I'm not big into winter sports, so, what I've seen here is actually ALL I have seen of these Paralympics! You are my exclusive coverage guy! lol. Hope the weather is crisp but clear for the night event.

vintagesnaps · Mar 12, 2014

Even the one in the fog is pretty cool. I haven't watched too much because of the time difference, alpine events supposed to be on later today. They're showing (and I'm recording) more of the sledge hockey and curling. You can have your outdoor winter events, makes me want to hide under the covers. Sounds like a great experience even with its ups and downs.

vintagesnaps · Mar 12, 2014

NOW they're getting to the foggy part in the telecast... earlier at least one of the TV cameras was fogging up but there's a stretch of the run (women's slalom) where the fog looks pretty thick. Watching someone ski on one leg is amazing. Whoever is doing commentary saying that when it's foggy like that you try not to think about it too much, feel for the ruts and get into a rhythm etc.

Here it's windy and we're getting flurries and moaning about it, bunch of Midwestern wimps! lol