With the 2020 Olympics currently underway, the athletes aren’t the only ones who have touched down in Tokyo. Getty Images has deployed a team of over 100 to shoot more than 2 million images, from the beginning of the Opening Ceremony until the lights go out on the Closing Ceremony.
Mediaweek spoke to Getty Images photographer, Cameron Spencer, about working at the most unique Games in memory.
Covid Restrictions
Spencer says that the restrictions that are currently in place in Tokyo will definitely play a factor in how the Games are covered.
“With access to the field of play, often we have a lot more free reign in terms of where we can go, that’s all pretty strict and pretty limited. Fortunately for Getty Images, we’re the official photographer for the IOC so we get premium access which is brilliant, we get to go places a lot of other people don’t.
“Often there are spots we go to get quite close to athletes, a lot of those have either been modified or ruled out, which is a challenge. Then there are little things like operating cameras with a mask on in humid conditions – we’ll get a fogged up viewfinder which is not ideal when you’re trying to focus on what’s going on. Little things like that.
“We’re in a bubble. I’m pretty sure the games will be a success because of this bubble and the amount of thought that’s gone into it.”
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Working Without Crowds
Possibly the most visible representation of the impact that Covid has had on the Games – other than athletes in masks – is the fact that the stands which were designed to hold thousands of fans will be empty. Spencer says the lack of crowds adds an extra element when it comes to photographing the Games.
“The priority for us is still capturing the peak of the action and the emotion that goes with that, the jubilation of medal ceremonies and dejection when you lose. That’s still our priority, but there will be an emphasis on documenting these Games from a historic viewpoint in terms of how different they are with no crowd. We still have the infrastructure here, there’s huge grandstands and scaffolding set up everywhere for fans and they’re just going to be empty. So being able to illustrate that will be challenging but also something that is really important to do.
“There will still be plenty of emotion and plenty of athletes that are pretty excited that these games are happening, and going for gold after years of hard work to get to this point.”
Introducing New Tech
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have also brought with them some new advances in technology for the Getty Images photography team. One of the biggest is the addition of robotic cameras.
“We’ve partnered with Canon and built some robotic cameras,” says Spencer. “They’re basically cameras that are mounted on rooftops and on catwalks. We’ve got two in the aquatic centre, one at the bottom of the swimming pool in lane four and one in the bottom of the diving pool.”
The cameras are hardwired directly to the internet so the photographers can get pictures straight out of them as the event is happening. Spencer says that the turnaround time from taking pictures and sending them out to be used is under a minute.
“With media and with editorial, it’s a race to see who can get the best pictures out and get them out the fastest. We’re pretty proud now that we’re going to be able to deliver imagery within 30 seconds from key events to clients at news desks around the world.”
Behind The Scenes
Photographing The Athletics
Spencer will be taking pictures of the athletics events this year, something that he has been working towards for a long time now.
“When you look at the Olympics, there’s a lot of sports that go on – 33 sports – and in my eyes the gymnastics, the swimming, and the athletics are the big ones that draw the most eyes and there’s the most hype around. I think they’re the most exciting events. You don’t just roll into your first Olympics and get to do athletics, so I’ve worked my way up over the years to get into that team, and we’ve got a great team this year of seven photographers that are going to be at the track every day.”
In particular, Spencer loves the athletics because the events make great pictures.
“There’s such variety at the track, there’s often athletes that people know too that have a bit of a rockstar status if you like, it’s always fun photographing them. There are some big names missing this Olympics with retirements since the last Games but I think that makes it exciting too, because there are lots of question marks over some of the races.
“We’ve got great weather here. It’s very hot, but it’s sunny and photographers love playing with light. If we’ve got the sun out we can be artistic and work the angles at the athletics stadium.”
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Overall, Spencer says that he’s excited for the Games to bring some much needed joy in a time where things to cheer for seem to be in short supply.
“These Olympics are really polarising, everyone has their opinion, but I think it’s really important that this event brings joy to a lot of people. Sport unites a lot of people around the world and I think the Games will demonstrate that.”