9 August 2008 :The Beijing Olympic will be the most photographed Games ever. Thousands of photographers, from all over the world, will focus on the athletes, the venues and many colorful Beijing sites.
Elite team of two dozen
The International Olympic Committee is employing an elite team of two dozen photographers who will take 70,000 pictures. Among them are world renowned characters, including British photographer Ian Jones. The 42-year-old from Windsor, England, who has served as the official photographer to the British and Jordanian families, is working his first Games.
“I’ve always dreamed of covering an Olympic Games, “ said Jones. “If I can’t take part as an athlete, the next best thing is to take pictures.”
Challenging work
IOC photographers consider the Games are challenging to work, even for the most experienced professional.
“We’re shooting spontaneously, trying to catch the athlete in action,” American John Huet, says. “An entire event can last only a few seconds. There’s no time to pose the athletes or to adjust the lighting. You better be prepared or you could miss the shot of the day, maybe the photograph of the Games.”
Jones, who began taking pictures with his parent’s camera at age six, said there is friendly competition among his colleagues to take the day’s best picture.
“There’s a deep pride in producing, what I believe, will be a memorable record of one of the most historic Games ever.”