Sochi 2014: Opening Ceremony

Fireworks explode in the sky during a celebration for the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at a live site in the mountain cluster.

With the opening ceremony to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics complete, we’re now set for two weeks of competition from the best athletes on the planet. To have a front row seat to Olympians accomplishing their lifelong dreams never, ever gets old.

While the opening ceremonies were held tonight on “The Coast” in Sochi proper, the “Mountain Cluster,” where I’m based, is host to many of the Olympics events, and had its own celebration on the street which was attended by a very diverse gathering of people.

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Posted in Photography, Photojournalism, Sochi Winter Olympics, Sports, Travel on February 7th, 2014. Comments Off.

Sochi 2014: Competiton Begins

France’s Perrine Laffont during the ladies’ freestyle skiing moguls of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. The odd look of this panning shot was caused by a volunteer with a brightly colored jacket (at right) passing between the skier I was following through the air and my camera.

Most people would assume that the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics would mark the official start of competition. They’d be wrong. The opening ceremonies are tomorrow, and competition started today. Most people would also assume that checking three bags for a transatlantic flight would result in all three of said bags arriving at your destination. They’d also be wrong, as my colleague Kevin Jairaj found out the hard way.

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Posted in Photography, Photojournalism, Sochi Winter Olympics, Sports, Travel on February 6th, 2014. Comments Off.

Sochi 2014: Self-Assigned

Skiers navigate a course in the mountain cluster at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

With the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics still two days away, there isn’t much in the way of actual competitive events happening just yet. Sure, there’s practice sessions to be had, but these obviously don’t count for anything, and the images aren’t as storytelling when there’s nothing on the line.

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Posted in Photography, Photojournalism, Sochi Winter Olympics, Sports, Travel on February 5th, 2014. Comments Off.

Sochi 2014: Getting On Your Feet

Freestyle skiing athlete Heidi Kloser (USA) falls during a training session at the Rosa Kuhtor Extreme Park.

Even at the Winter Olympics, where athletes and photographers alike gather with their “a-game” ready to shine, practice still makes perfect. And so, with today being a day for athletes to take the courses and try things on for size, us photographers took a similar approach. My day was spent scouting the Rosa Kuhtor Extreme Park, figuring out which angles and positions would work best for the events I’ll be shooting there, as well as shooting a practice session of ladies and mens freestyle moguls.

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Posted in Photography, Photojournalism, Sochi Winter Olympics, Sports, Travel on February 4th, 2014. Comments Off.