London Olympics 2012 in pictures, the first week

From the more than excellent The Atlantic pictures from the first days of the London 2012 Olympics. There are some truly astounding images in this set so do go and have a look at all of them.

More than 10,000 athletes from 200 national Olympic committees around the globe have gathered in London for the 17-day 2012 Summer Olympic Games. So far, dozens of Olympic and world records have already been broken and more than 500 medals have been awarded. As we pass the Games’ halfway point, here’s a look back at some amazing events that have taken place in the U.K. over the past nine days. [62 photos]

Jessica Ennis of Great Britain crosses the line during the Women’s Heptathlon 800m to win the race and the overall gold on Day 8 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium, on August 4, 2012. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt crosses the finish line to win his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s 100-meter final in the Olympic Stadium, on August 5, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Russia’s Aliya Mustafina warms up before competing in the balance beam during the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final in the North Greenwich Arena, on August 2, 2012. (Reuters/Mike Blake)The South Korean men’s cycling team trains on Monday, July 30, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)

Britain’s Jessica Ennis celebrates winning her women’s heptathlon at the Olympic Stadium, on August 4, 2012. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)

Gabrio Zandona (right) and Pietro Zucchetti (left) of Italy compete in the Men’s 470 Sailing on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Weymouth & Portland Venue at Weymouth Harbour, on August 2, 2012. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Samantha Arevalo Salinas of Ecuador starts in a women’s 800-meter freestyle swimming heat at the Aquatics Center in London, on August 2, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jamel Herring, of the United States, after being defeated by Kazakhstan’s Daniyar Yelessinov in their men’s light welter 64-kg boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, on July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian gymnasts and team officials react as teammate Kseniia Afanaseva falls while performing on the floor during the Artistic Gymnastics women’s team final, on July 31, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

See all 62 images here

London 2012: The Opening Ceremony – Best Photos

Thanks to The Atlantic for this roundup of images from the opening night of the London Olympics. These images are so much better than anything seen on tv, make sure you have a look at these fantastic pictures

Last night the 2012 Summer Olympics kicked off with a huge Opening Ceremony in London’s new Olympic Stadium, an event watched on television by an estimated 1 billion viewers. Performances paid tribute to British heritage and culture, from agrarian beginnings through pop culture successes like the Beatles and J.K. Rowling. Contingents from more than 200 nations marched in the athletes parade, and the evening was capped off by the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, a performance by Paul McCartney, and a huge fireworks display. Collected below is just a glimpse of last night’s ceremony, as the 2012 Olympics are now underway. [44 photos]

Newly “forged” Olympic rings light up the stadium in London, on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Britain’s flag bearer Chris Hoy holds the national flag as he leads the contingent in the athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters)

Union Flags, commonly known as the Union Jack, are projected on the Palace of Westminster next to Big Ben on the bank of the River Thames, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)

Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Britain’s David Beckham (center) drives a powerboat with the Olympic torch as fireworks are launched over Tower Bridge during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Eddie Keogh)

Actors portraying the Queen of England and James Bond arrive via parachute after jumping from a helicopter during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Murad Sezer)

A giant marionette of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter books makes an appearance in the Opening Ceremony, on July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Fireworks on display at Tower Bridge on July 27, 2012 in London, England. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

A wide-angle view of the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on July 27, 2012. (Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski)

 

SEE THE REST HERE

 

Olympics organisers refuse to clarify photography rules ahead of Games

Do you have tickets to see any of the Olympic events and thought you might take a camera along to record that once in a lifetime opportunity, well maybe you should think again. It seems that for ill defined reasons the organisers are prepared to ban the use of what they deem to be professional type cameras, my guess is this means DSLR cameras with a lens long enough to capture anything on the track or field of play. This is another example of photographers being demonised because those in authority do not understand why people take pictures. We do it because we are interested in photography and like to record our lives, where we go and what we see.  Of course it could be that the athletes, their managers, sponsors or whomever want to have complete control over what images are available. God forbid you might get a picture of an athlete throwing a hissy fit or one of the football stars doing something unmentionable to another.

The BJP, always a source of informed news and comment has an article by  Olivier Laurent, with James Temperton of Computer Active on this matter, read the full article here but this is the nature of what is being considered

“Some venues will be more flexible,” she said. “For example, if you’re attending an event in Green Park, there’ll be more space for spectators, so security might allow you to get in with larger equipment. But that won’t be the case at the Olympic Stadium,” where large lenses and tripods could interfere with spectators’ view of the sporting events.

However, BJP and ComputerActive, another Incisive Media publication, have found that Wembley Stadium, which will host football events during the Olympic Games, will prohibit any kind of “professional-style cameras [any camera with interchangeable lenses] or recording/transmitting devices”.

From the BJP: Aerial view of the Olympic Park showing the Olympic Stadium and warm-up track in the foreground.

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2191402/london-2012-olympic-games-organisers-refuse-to-clarify-photography-rules-in-advance#ixzz21e1ZId5j

Subscribe to BJP and save money. Click here to save 29% today.

The Photographers’ Gallery celebrates London 2012 Olympics with an outdoor exhibition

Simon Bainbridge writes in the BJP about an exhibition due to open at the new Photographers Gallery.

“The World in London is a major outdoor photography exhibition that will go on show in east London to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics.

The Photographers’ Gallery has revealed its contribution to this year’s Olympic games, announcing The World in London, a major outdoor exhibition for which it commissioned 204 portraits.Each of the 204 subjects originated from one of the 204 countries competing in this summer’s games in the capital, all of which will be shown together as large-scale posters in Victoria Park in east London (which hosts the 2012 Olympics), as well as in the pedestrian zone outside the gallery’s soon-to-re-open venue in Soho. “

“The World in London explores portraiture and cultural diversity using photography, one of the most accessible and democratic artistic mediums of our times,” says the gallery. “The project celebrates London as a place where individuals from all parts of the world live side by side, each of them contributing to make London the unique city it is.”.…….MORE

Snezana Lukka-Biesek, Russia 2010 (c) Véronique Rolland, who is one of 204 photographers commissioned for an exhibition as part of the London 2012 Festival.

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2165603/photographers-gallery-celebrates-london-2012-olympics-outdoor-exhibition-204-portraits#ixzz1rYEp2531
Subscribe to BJP and save money. Click here to save 29% today.