Hi and welcome to this edition of Workshop at the Ranch. I have always enjoyed covering the Olympic Games and in particular, the Opening Ceremonies. First, let me say, I liked these ceremonies as much as any that I have attended during the 12 Olympic Games I have been privileged to document. The Opening Ceremonies mark the beginning of the largest sporting event on the planet. If the opportunity is presented to any of you to cover an Olympic Games, take it……you’ll never work so hard or be rewarded so much. Let the Games begin…………..

Hi and welcome to this edition of Workshop at the Ranch. I have always enjoyed covering the Olympic Games and in particular, the Opening Ceremonies. First, let me say, I liked these ceremonies as much as any that I have attended during the 12 Olympic Games I have been privileged to document. The Opening Ceremonies mark the beginning of the largest sporting event on the planet. If the opportunity is presented to any of you to cover an Olympic Games, take it……you’ll never work so hard or be rewarded so much. Let the Games begin…………..

Image #1      Me…Yes, it’s me, all snug and settled into my assigned ticketed seat 3 hours before the curtain would go up on my last Olympics. Not all accredited photographers are allowed to attend the Opening Ceremonies…there just is not enough room to accommodate all of them. Each organization is given 1 or 2 tickets. This would allow approximately 1/3 of the accredited photographers a seat to shoot from. The event is so massive that no one seat is perfect but I was satisfied with my location and was happy with many of the images I captured. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/20 at f2.8, WB 6700K, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #2      The Olympic Rings… One of the most recognized symbols in the world. Each international city that hosts an Olympic Games finds a way to display the Olympic Rings during the Opening Ceremonies. Torino chose to construct the Rings within a frame work of girders and Cirque de Sole style acrobats that concluded with the Rings exploding with pyrotechnics. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/160 at f2.8, WB 6500K, Nikon 300mm f2.8Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #3      Hot Heads…These guys were very popular with the audience. The “Hot Heads,” as I called them, skated around the stage and infield area on inline skates with jet engine like helmets. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/320 at f2.8, WB 7700K, Nikon 400mm f2.8 Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #4      USA Team Entrance… My location was a good one for the team entrances. This image of the USA Olympic Team and the Olympic Rings worked well and was an exciting moment for me to document. Olympic Gold medalist from the 2002 Salt Lake Games Chris Witty carried the American Flag. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/200 at f2.8, WB Fluorescent -3, Nikon 70-200mm VR Zoom Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #5      Bizarre… I’m not sure what the significance is to have an acrobat drifting around in space hanging from a hot air planet over 20 foot tall replicas of 16th century ladies of royalty…..but hey, it’s their show and it ain’t Curling. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/125 at 2.8, WB Fluorescent -3, Nikon 70-200mm VR Zoom Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #6      Geared Up… Only in Italy would a Formula One Ferrari make an appearance during the Olympic Games. Definitely the crowd pleaser of the night the driver cruised onto the stage and proceeded to gear up and spin the tires and the race car around in victory circles less than 20 feet from the athletes. Seemed a bit risky to me but remember, the driver is Italian. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/320 at f2.8, WB Fluorescent -3, Nikon 400mm f2.8 Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #7      Sophia Loren… The presentation of the Olympic Flag is a very dignified moment and I thought Sophia Loren, who is a national treasure of Italy, was a wonderful choice to lead the group of dignitaries that carried the flag. Nikon D2X, ISO400, 1/320 at f2.8, WB Fluorescent -3, Nikon 4oomm f2.8 Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #8      The Olympic Torch… Several runners carry the Olympic Torch into and around the stadium. My position worked well for the arrival of the Olympic Ideal icon. Nikon D2X, ISO800, 1/250 at f4, WB Fluorescent -3, Nikon 400mm f2.8 Lens with TC14E 1.4 Teleconverter, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #9      The Finale… The final send off of fireworks was not as spectacular as photographers had hoped for but were terrific non the less and made a good picture. The over hanging roof design of the stadium helped complete the circular effect enhanced by my Nikon 10.5 Fisheye Lens. Nikon D2X, ISO320, 1/40 at 2.8, WB 8000K, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Image #10      Flame On… The Olympic Flame in Torino was as impressive as any I have seen. I just couldn’t resist taking a picture of it. Nikon D2X, ISO200, 1/1000 at f4, WB 6700K, Nikon 400mm f2.8 Lens, Lexar 4G Flash Card.

Well…There you have it. I’ve been blessed to have been part of the Olympic movement for just over 25 years. Twelve Olympics in all, beginning with my first Summer Olympics in 1984. I have covered Olympians in their quest for GOLD in Los Angeles, Calgary, Seoul, Albertville, Barcelona, Lillihammer, Atlanta, Nagano, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens and Torino. I believe with all my heart that this has been Gods plan for me for the last 25 years. And now I believe that He has a new direction for me and my photography….some new venues…with new challenges……..and so, my Olympic Games coverage ended when Apollo Ohno crossed the finish line and won the GOLD medal in the 500 meter final at the Palavela Ice Hall in Torino, Italy. It was nice to go out with a win.

My sports photography has been taking some new and exciting directions in recent years. I am grateful for where I have been and I am excited about where I will be going. My first order of business is to begin writing a book teaching photography that I hope will be beneficial and influential to photographers at all levels. I will reveal more about this endeavor later this year. While I still plan on covering many of the major sporting events I’m incorporating more commercial projects and clients involving sports/athletes and other subjects into my calendar. These new clients and projects will challenge me and help expand my photographic knowledge. I will be passing that knowledge along to all of you within the articles of Workshop at the Ranch, On The Road and the proposed Book.

My sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to all those who helped me along the Olympic trail, …Bob Condron and Mike Moran at the USOC,… Mark Starr, Kelli Grant and Al Prysbilkowski at Newsweek, and all the media directors from the NGBs of the sports I have had the pleasure to work with……….I couldn’t have done it alone.

Thanks for visiting…See you next time at Workshop at the Ranch………………………Adios, Dave