The 2024 Summer Olympics kicked off in Paris earlier this week, with the official opening commencing today, July 26. The “Games of the XXXIII Olympiad,” as the event is officially known, puts athletes through grueling competition, but the photographers on hand to photograph everything don’t have it much easier. It is a sports photography gauntlet.
PetaPixel spoke with one of the photographers in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony, Maddie Meyer with Getty Images, to learn more about her career, her approach to Paris, and what makes sports photography so rewarding and challenging.
Emotion and Action: What Makes an Iconic Sports Photo
“My favorite sports photos are full of emotion,” Meyer explains to PetaPixel. “The Olympics are the best place to make these, in my opinion. Every athlete you see has worked tirelessly to make it to this end goal — we see really high highs, and low lows.”
While it may seem like the best sports photos would focus primarily on the sport being played, some of the most iconic sports images from history don’t rely on the event itself but on how an athlete, victorious or in defeat, reacts to what has happened. Muhammad Ali standing over a defeated Sonny Liston, Brandi Chastain sliding on the grass after winning the 1999 World Cup Final, and even terrifying events like the 1955 disaster at Le Mans. The point is that iconic sports photos sometimes rely on fast-paced action, even if shooters like Meyer expertly capture the high-octane moments, too.
“I love when the athletes entire body displays what they’re going through — a collapse at the finish line, a celebration sitting on a lane line, smashing water into the air,” Meyer says. “In order for these images to really shine, a few other elements must come together: clean backgrounds and nice lighting are the two main factors we look for.”
Preparation and Teamwork Are Crucial for Sports Photographers at the Olympics
Like so many others in photography, these moments are difficult to forecast. While professionals like Meyer do extensive research, keep an eye on potentially exciting stories, and map out the types of shots they’d like to get, there is some luck involved, and Meyer says photographers must be flexible.
That said, she is focused on aquatic events in Paris, so she has some stories in mind to watch closely.
“The two big stories I am paying attention to going in are: The doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers, and the rivalry between Australia and United States swim teams,” Meyer explains. “Some of these images may be obvious — looks between swimmers on the podium, one athlete celebrating next to one who lost, and some may be more subtle and in the details that we need to look out for.”
She has also followed some of the same swimmers since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She says Getty sends photographers like her to intervening events like the World Championships and even smaller regional meets.
“By doing this, we understand who the emerging stars are and how the household names are performing, which better prepares us for capturing compelling and unique moments during the Olympics.”
Like many events at the Olympics, photographing the competition is a team sport for the shooters, too.
“This a lot to keep in mind as we cover the event, but that’s why it’s so fantastic working as a team. We will have a minimum of five photographers at each swim session so we will have multiple angles covered. I am always confident if I don’t think of something or am not in the best position for a moment, someone else on the Getty Images staff will have it covered.”
Unique Photo Opportunities at the Olympics
There are moments and compositional opportunities available only at the Olympics, elements like the Olympic rings on athletes and in the background. However, Meyer also notes something else compelling about the Olympics from a photographic perspective: the lack of branding and sponsorship logos.
“One of my favorite things about the Olympics is the lack of branding. We don’t see advertisements for brands like we would at another swim meet, or regular season basketball, hockey or football game,” she says.
She also notes that many Olympic athletes get the Olympic rings tattooed on their bodies, and in the case of swimmers, the ink is often visible during events. “Returning athletes will have them on display,” she adds.
The lack of branding is great and makes for a cleaner frame; for Meyer, every aspect of the frame matters.
“One of the first things we do when we enter an arena is assess the backgrounds. Key elements here include signage, lighting, and where the coaches and fans are positioned.”
“Sometimes we work with things in the background as a layer, like the Olympic rings or including full stands of crowds. Sometimes we try and eliminate everything we can to make a clean background, so the athlete is the sole focus. This is really dependent on where we can position ourselves, and what we think compliments the image we are trying to create best.”
As for the Olympic rings, they’re “iconic” and “instantly give the viewer a sensor of place,” Meyer adds, so anytime it’s possible to improve a photo by including them, that’s a slam dunk.
Technological Challenges and Changes in Sports Photography
As anyone who has ever shot sports knows, shutter speed is vital to getting the right shot. Sometimes, a photographer needs a very fast shutter speed to freeze action; other times, a slower one is required to reflect motion.
“When it comes to swimming in particular most images I like to freeze the water as well. Keeping that shutter speed high ensures your picture will be sharp and you can get as much clarity and detail in the image as possible,” Meyer explains.
However, she also likes to pan, which she often does with divers and long-distance swimmers.
“For these images we may go down to 1/10th of a second and move our camera alongside the athlete. By doing this we are able to illustrate motion and highlight the speed at which the athlete is moving,” Meyer explains.
Evolving camera technology has also dramatically changed the way Meyer works in the field. While some things are universal, such as picking the right shutter speed, newer cameras offer different features and performance, enabling photographers to get different shots.
“For this year’s Olympics, our team will primarily be using Canon EOS R3 cameras. I love this camera, and the improved autofocus is fantastic,” Meyer says. “I often use the AF tracking settings when photographing divers or artistic swimmers as they jump from the water.”
Better remote control and networking capabilities have also proven instrumental, as Meyer and the rest of the team have been able to put cameras in different spots, places they can’t physically shoot from, to get fantastic shots.
“The biggest update to the camera technology we will be using is a new, proprietary underwater robotic camera at all the Aquatics venues. Its upgrades from the previous version enable us to use a monitor pool side with a live feed as a more accurate view finder. The robotic itself has been upgraded which enables us to move the camera more fluidly, this helps when trying to photograph a race or routine from multiple angles or pan with an athlete underwater,” she says.
“The more seamless integration between robotic movement and our control from above the water enables us to focus solely on the image we are trying to capture versus tinkering with the technical aspects while trying to photograph the event. Our underwater coverage is key with aquatics and helps create some of the most interesting images in my opinion!”
Olympic Dreams
“During the Paris Olympics, I will be photographing Aquatics, this includes swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. I work with a team of photographers who all have experience with these sports, and we plan coverage together. I’m very excited to be a part of this team again and look forward to what we can all create! My goal is to be sure our team has thorough and differentiated coverage,” Meyer says.
For her, a successful Olympics will mean that she and the rest of the team are able to get all the photos they need for the storylines that they expect and the surprising ones that pop up.
However, beyond meeting the needs of their clients, Meyer also hopes to have a few “surprises,” as she calls them.
These are “images that make someone look twice and wonder how it was made, or have the moment be particularly memorable.”
They’re challenging to plan for, “but I love when they present themselves,” the photographer explains.
This isn’t Meyer’s first rodeo, having worked in previous Olympics, summer and winter alike. She’s learned a lot over the years, and many of the lessons Meyer is taking to Paris concern pacing herself.
“All of us going to the Games are seasoned sports photographers and know how to make a picture. It’s not often though that we have back-to-back long days on such little sleep. The days are incredibly demanding, and you need to be in top form throughout.”
“I do my best to set myself up for success by bringing as much routine on the road as I can. I bring food and vitamins that I know I’ll need to power me through, as well as fans and eye masks to fall asleep as quickly and comfortably as I can, and a yoga mat and foam roller to stretch my body. The last thing anyone wants while at an event like this is to get sick! So, wellness is half the battle for me.”
“The whole event feels like a marathon, and I find I need to dig deep to stay focused and vigilant throughout,” Meyer adds.
Beyond staying healthy and energized, the biggest challenge is making something that stands out from the crowd. There are many talented photographers in Paris, and while many are working with others to get the best coverage, every photographer also wants to be the one to make the best photo — that one shot that represents the Paris Olympics.
For Meyer, she measures success in part by her ability to create something different from the rest of her team during any given event.
People can keep up to date with Meyer and the rest of the Getty Images team on Getty’s dedicated Olympics website, and on Instagram. Meyer herself will be posting regularly on Instagram, sharing her best shots during the Games.
Image credits: © Maddie Meyer / Getty Images