A Paralympic experience

[imagemaker46]

If there is one thing non photo I can pass on it's no matter what kind of job you do in life try and stay in some kind of physical condition, it isn't always possible with some health issues, but it does make living and working in life a lot easier. I had spent quite a while working out preparing for this assignment, but it is difficult to prepare for a constant change of environment, injury, and the climbing up and down mountains daily. Age does play a certain role in some of it, but I have been working around photographers in their 20's that are struggling with the same conditions I am.

Stay as healthy as you can, fuel the body and make sure you always carry water. Stream line what you carry, it's not important to haul every piece of gear every time. Stretch often, when you first get up, before you head out the door and stretch through out the day, you'll notice a huge difference in mobility and it does help some of the aches go away. I know that I've got some aches, pains and bruises that won't be going away anytime soon, and I still have four more days.

 

[vintagesnaps]

It was interesting to watch some of it today and to have your perspective of actually being there. I wondered seeing the slalom where on the slopes you'd been in that fog. Saying it looks strenuous to be up there is an understatement.

Tomorrow NBCSN is showing sledge hockey but I don't know if/when there will be more alpine events on.

 

[imagemaker46]

A few non sports photos. Shot these while waiting for other things to happen.





I'll be back shooting snowboarding all day tomorrow and under the lights as well. I ended up shooting the finish line under the lights tonight, and most of the Canadian skiers didn't finish the race, the course is in terrible condition, quite a few skiers didn't finish.

 

[tirediron]

That first one is very nice!

 

[bc_steve]

Nice work! thanks for posting these

 

[tirediron]

Okay folks let's keep this on track! There's no further requirement for discussions about who's got the bigger lens, or why my lens is better than your lens etc. Let's bear in mind that Scott is one of (AFAIK) one members we have who shoots at this level professionally, and his opinions and insight are interesting and valuable to most of the membership.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Serious question.. how do they figure out who can compete with who? I mean someone who only has one arm vs a guy with one prosthetic leg? There will be a time where people use robotic legs and they can run faster than Usain Bolt.

 

[tirediron]

Serious question.. how do they figure out who can compete with who? I mean someone who only has one arm vs a guy with one prosthetic leg? There will be a time where people use robotic legs and they can run faster than Usain Bolt.

Good question! :scratch: There are so many degrees of handicap that trying to put things on some sort of level playing field must be one <female dog> <female dog=""> of a job.</female>

 

[brian_f2.8]

For as much criticism as you give, nothing says WOW. I expected better quality than what you have posted. There is some over exposure and some underexposed images and more importantly some images that have poor composition.

Im confused by how you are critiquing other photographers for using borrowed gear. I know several photographers who shot the real games in Sochi a few weeks ago and shot over a million shots. If I was going there, sure I would use borrowed gear as well, why put that much wear n tear on your personal stuff IF YOU DONT HAVE TO. You also mentioned that you would like to use some of CPS's equipment.

I have seen some really good and creative work on Getty's website and on the web. I dont see that kind of quality here.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I've watched a few events and there seemed to be different categories such as standing, seated, etc. depending on the event. Mostly I've watched wheelchair curling and sledge hockey - they all seem to use the same sled regardless, crash the boards, get upright and are right back into the action (***spoiler alert in case you haven't seen today's results and care, don't read the bottom of this post!***).

At this level of sport I'd expect photographers would be using professional level equipment but then again it doesn't exactly surprise me that there would be people there with credentials who don't exactly seem to know what they're doing.

And yes, I remember the Sun-Times firing their entire photography staff, and being a hockey fan was thinking at the time about their reporters when Chicago won the Stanley Cup - can you imagine all the other photographers out on the ice with their cameras and their reporter out there with a phone?? I didn't notice any but the poor schmuck was probably hiding in a tunnel sobbing. Their front page photo next day was pretty lame from what I remember. Disappointing state of affairs for media photographers.
















In sled hockey today Team USA won the Gold!!! Canada won the Bronze, Russia the Silver.

 

[tirediron]

For as much criticism as you give, nothing says WOW. I expected better quality than what you have posted. There is some over exposure and some underexposed images and more importantly some images that have poor composition.

Im confused by how you are critiquing other photographers for using borrowed gear. I know several photographers who shot the real games in Sochi a few weeks ago and shot over a million shots. If I was going there, sure I would use borrowed gear as well, why put that much wear n tear on your personal stuff IF YOU DONT HAVE TO. You also mentioned that you would like to use some of CPS's equipment.

I have seen some really good and creative work on Getty's website and on the web. I dont see that kind of quality here.

Because of course, he's posted every image he's taken here. I don't see anywhere that Scott has criticized anyone for using gear borrowed from C/NPS. What he did say is that because of the reduced services that based on where he was shooting it wasn't practical for him to avail himself of that gear.

 

[imagemaker46]

For as much criticism as you give, nothing says WOW. I expected better quality than what you have posted. There is some over exposure and some underexposed images and more importantly some images that have poor composition.

Im confused by how you are critiquing other photographers for using borrowed gear. I know several photographers who shot the real games in Sochi a few weeks ago and shot over a million shots. If I was going there, sure I would use borrowed gear as well, why put that much wear n tear on your personal stuff IF YOU DONT HAVE TO. You also mentioned that you would like to use some of CPS's equipment.

I have seen some really good and creative work on Getty's website and on the web. I dont see that kind of quality here.

Thanks again for you're input, do you just copy and paste everything you say when it comes to my work? Getty has 6 full time shooters dedicated and 4 the roam through events, they have a staff that does the post work as well, and they draw on thousands of images per day. I am one photographer trying to cover it all, I can't cover all the angles, even you should understand that. But please feel free to add your always insightful tidbits of pointless information.

I've seen lots of amazing images shot here and none of them were shot by Getty, so what? As long as my client is happy with the work I'm doing, that is all that matters. At least I post some of my best on here, I realize that you can't so we get to see your seconds, if that's really the case. Don't bother, I'm way past caring what a school teacher with a rented camera has to say.

 

[brian_f2.8]

Wow as I figured you can dish it out but you can't take it. Sorry but nothing says wow. I'm entitled to my opinion and I'll express it.


Haha rented camera, no I own my gear

2 D3's
2 D7000
300 (f4)
70-200
24-70
50mm
35mm
10.5 fish
Sb900

Don't make excuses, figure it out. It seems that people on this thread are impressed with the behind the scenes angles as most have never shot a pro sporting event. Also anyone can take a great pic with a 5D MIII.

 

[tirediron]

... Also anyone can take a great pic with a 5D MIII.

I think that statement has the distinction of being one of the most ridiculous things ever posted on TPF!

 

[imagemaker46]

Wow as I figured you can dish it out but you can't take it. Sorry but nothing says wow. I'm entitled to my opinion and I'll express it.


Haha rented camera, no I own my gear

2 D3's
2 D7000
300 (f4)
70-200
24-70
50mm
35mm
10.5 fish
Sb900

Don't make excuses, figure it out. It seems that people on this thread are impressed with the behind the scenes angles as most have never shot a pro sporting event. Also anyone can take a great pic with a 5D MIII.

It's not the gear, I'll be posting some shots from today of the Giant Slalom shot with a 300 2.8 1.4 and Canon t2i. It takes a lot more skill to use a camera than just to list what you own and not know how to use it.

You are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that, I just don't respect you as a person, you have an overinflated ego with a Getty god complex, when in reality you are simply a school teacher that plays shooting cars on the weekend. That's just my opinion

I wasn't trying to impress anyone on this forum, I was simply trying to let people know what it's like working a long event as a professional photographer. There have been some great images from this event, mostly from friends of mine that are full time ski photographers, I wasn't trying to compete against anyone, let alone these guys.