Noriaki Kasai #6-4 of Japan competes during the Men’s Team Ski Jumping Competition at the Whistler Olympic Park during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Donald Miralle)
That’s how I’m going to keep in tonight because that’s how my day went. Not by choice, just my interest in the Olympics is waning as probably yours is and the millions of TV viewers are. It’s not the athletes fault as there have been some unbeleivable performances this games; and it’s not NBC fault because their coverage and commentary is always entertaining. It’s just that 16 days is a really long time to be inundated by sports, especially sports and athletes you only see every four years. Maybe it’s because my wake up call this morning at 6am after about 3 1/2 hours of sleep was the most painful one to date. Or maybe it’s because I returned to a venue and shot the same pictures of the same atheletes I did a couple days ago. Again not because I wanted to, but just because it pays.
More Noriaki Kasai #6-4 of Japan competes during the Men’s Team Ski Jumping Competition for Japanese Agency and client AFLO. (Photo by Donald Miralle)
Pan at 60th of second with 500mm, haven’t seen this one before 🙂
Silly of Jumper with mountains…look familiar?
Daiki Ito #6-1 of Japan competes during the Men’s Team Ski Jumping Competition
Everywhere you look there are rings. (Photos by Donald Miralle)
At any rate, I returned to the Whistler Olympic Park today for the Men’s Ski Jumping Final. A nordic event that’s part avian, part daredevils, these athletes are a blast to watch and shoot. And the TV doesn’t do their sport any justice. Some of these guys gains speeds of over 90km per hour before they launch and soar through the air for nearly 150M (which for us Americans not on the metric system that’s nearly 500 feet). Or for those good ole boys and rednecks out there who grew up watching Evil Knievel that’s over 123 buses! No wonder Matti Nykänen, a.k.a. the “Flying Finn”, who was a four-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion, was rumored to spend much of his jumping career intoxicated.
Anyways here are some photo from today…please let me know me know if your Olympic Interest is waning like mine, or if you guys are still watching the melting snow up here on delay. Give me a shout!
Nice moment when Team Germany celebrates their Silver Medal.
Why did I paint my face this color today?
Deutchland rocks!!! (Photos by Donald Miralle)
Trying to stay enthusiastic (Photo by Al Bello)
Nice to be in good company – Al Bello of Getty, Bob Martin of Sport Illustrated and I get cozy and shoot from under the jump during the Men’s SKi Jumping Team Comp. (Photo Andrew Burton)
donaldmiralle.wordpress.com 
Hey Donald,
I just want to say I have yet to get tired of looking at your photos. Instead I look forward to seeing something new and exciting everyday. I loved the newsweek blog and this is a great substitute. Keep up the great work.
Congrats on WPP! Keep up good job. Very strong pics. When do you find time to do blog posts?
Do you still shoot film at all?
You’ve got a dream job 😉 Don’t complain 😉 Just kidding.
sorry, another questiion.
Have you seen any pro photographers using Olympus?
cheers 🙂
no olympus mostly canon and nikon on the pros…
I’m still interested ….. I really enjoyed the ski jumping last night. Hang in there, less than a week to go. You’re doing great!
Donald, I check in everyday…stuff looks great. You might be shooting the same stuff, but it still looks different. I enjoy the blog keep up the good work.
Donald,
No, none of us back home are tired of the Olympic competition, we are seeing the best of the best in the world, don’t forget, and the skiing events, with the speeds involved are thrilling. You need sleep, my man, your exhausted, mentally as well as physically, you need to take off some time for some really solid sleep. With all the walking with your heavy pack and then standing for hours, concentration on shooting, well, the mind and body can only take so much. Your images are truly heart stopping, you take it to the next level, as a historian and as an artist. Thanks for the great blog.
I’m like you, interest is waning a bit, but i still enjoy your blog and I’m still watching the Olympics. I think it’s a good thing we put off our Whistler ski trip.
Happy Birthday Big Dan!
Rick
Happy Birthday Big Dan!!!
it’s amazing how you manage to continue blogging every night after a 10-12 hour day! I get your updates by email each night at around 1:30am and I can’t imagine how exhausted you must be… Hang in there man! Almost done!
Hey Donald,
Your photos as always are awesome. One question for you: which is more grueling, covering these Olympics or X-mas training hell week at UCLA swimming?
Hell week at UCLA was tough physically and mentally, and I will never be in that kind of shape again. Shooting the Olympics is hard for the same reasons as well, but logistically is more challenging because every day you go somewhere different and it all takes so much more planning, every day and months in advance. It would be relaxing just working into the pool for a couple times a day, staring at a line at the bottom of the pool, and having a catered meal waiting for me right now…Go Bruins!
Keep up the good work and finish strong. Just a few more days to go and then it’s another 4 years for another opportunity for both you and the athletes.
P.S. I guess this explains why you weren’t shooting the Accenture 😉
Still really enjoying your blog – hang in there!! Today was the first surfable day in like a week, so what else would you be doing?? 🙂
Donald, awesome images and I love your portrayal of a photographers day at work. I don’t know how you do it. Thanks! your WPB assistant in a box
Thank you so much for doing this blog. As a photographer myself, I really appreciate the details about finding the right spot to shoot from, your over and under exposed shots, the stories of the long and tiring days (and nights) and all the less-than-magazine-cover shots. You are a real human. You’ve got some great images. Thanks for sharing.
Haha, My interest in the Olympics may be waning, but this blog cracks me up.. Love the shots!!
Very nice Donald!! Congratulations!
Excellent work!!
I still can enjoy the Olympics, although it’s getting hard to work 15 hours a day myself and watch the games at night (Europe). Reading this blog gives me inspiration for my local assignments. So keep up the good work! It’s only a couple day’s left! 😉
Hey Donald,
Great images, as always. Even more impressed by your energy to keep the blog going at all hours after travelling and shooting. When you see Mike Powell, tell him I’m looking forward to seeing him here in Bellingham, WA this year.
Cheers,
Dave Pillinger.
It’s the caffeine and Mike’s “Hardcore All-Day Energy Shots” to blame for the excessive blogging. Thanks for looking and MP is sitting next to me in the media center while we wait for the Figure Skating to start. I think he would rather be in Bellingham right now…
Wow Donald!! Trully amazing images. I’m in awe of your ability to be in the right place at the right time! Super shot of that controversial DQ of Ohno in the 500M final. Then to be at rink level for that amazing hockey game on Sunday — what a dream!!! Super job.
Now go home and enjoy your family! Hug those boys my friend.
Image third from top our Fave – awesome capture!
Best,
David
DSP