As the Winter Olympics draws to a close, Getty Images has offered this fascinating insight into the logistics of covering this remarkable and incredibly cold event. Battling geography, climate, and equipment while coordinating a huge team of photographers is an immense challenge.
A large chunk of Getty Images' entire business was transported to cover the Games, itself a logistical feat of enormous proportions. Creating an entire office in sub-zero conditions for a two-week event must have required a remarkable amount of planning. It's no wonder that their Senior Manager of Operations, Carl Erwich, had worked on five Olympic Games prior to Pyeongchang.
The weather itself was a unique obstacle with technicians having to crimp ethernet cables in temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degrees Celsius). The photographers themselves also had to make sure that they were able to stay warm while out covering events, often having to stay in an exposed position for hours at a time. With sub-zero temperatures frequently made more severe by windchill, it was essential to have the right clothing.
Creating an infrastructure that can deliver images to global clients less than a minute after the image was taken is an impressive feat. Being able to do that at a temporary venue with a team of 45 photographers wielding 150 cameras and 350 lenses spread simultaneously across multiple events is a little mind-boggling.
Huh?
So you agree with the idea of spending millions on a few athletes just to show the world how superior your country is?
"No other country has earned more Olympic medals than America."
That's correct if you include Summer and Winter Olympics - which the statement reflects, but not in regards to Winter Olympics alone.
Please stop patronizing an organization that regularly steals peoples image.
Amazingly diverse organization. I think they pride themselves of not having a single black face anywhere in view. That's one of many colors absent by design from the Getty palette.