Coming home

Sorry haven't written in a few days. Things were begining to be a blur.
My final couple days here in Vancouver were exciting. Friday shooting
hockey all day. Then Saturday, witnessed USA win Gold in the Bobsleigh.
What an exciting day that was. Couldn't have topped it off any better than an
overtime game in hockey, toobad USA couldn't pull off another miracle.
That would have been an ending. I had a good time here, but ready to come home.
Saw many friends and made some new ones learned many new things. I skipped the closing ceremonies
tonight, went back to hotel and packed for my flight in the morning. Airport
officials said to arrive at airport 4-5 hours before your scheduled flight
mine is at 11:45. Thought my days of getting up early were over. I guess one more day
won't hurt. I have many stories go tell everyone when I get back not only about my time here
but how things were run here for photogs and media in general. Now I guess it's
time to sign off from the 21st Olympic games here in Vancouver. I tip my hat off to
the city for it's hospitality. From the Great Great White North, goodbye
and see ya back home Eh? : )

John

Countdown

Well, it's almost over. Yesterday I shot some hockey and then went over to shoot short track speed skating. The USA womens' 3000M ended with a bronze after the Korean team was disqualified for impeding on a China skater. Pretty exciting for the women. Today I'm at the Womens' Gold Hockey game with the USA taking on the strong favorite Canada team at Canada Hockey Place. Then I have to pack up and grab a cab to figure skating for Rachael Flat in the long program. CUTTING IT CLOSE LEYBA!!! I'll make it.

Kids at ski jump

Kids at ski jump in the photo area where photographers shoot from, also photographed them with Smiley Poole of the Houston Chronical

Kids at Ski Jump

Ski Jump

Was at ski jump/nordic combine this morning up at Whistler Olympic Park. What a great day up on the mountain. I took my coat off and just wore my fleece. made some nice photos of Steamboat jumper Todd Lodwick and his family. I got lucky and had a great shot of him throwing his 19mos old son up in the air after his jump. After his jump I rushed out to catch the bus back to Vancouver. I edited on the bus and when I got back to the media center, all i had to do was transmit them. pretty easy. Noe I'm at figure skating to photograph Mirai Nagasu and Colorado's Rachael Flatt. Miriai goes early in the program as Flat is third from last, in a field of 30.

Ski Jump/Nordic Combine

Day 12

Today woke up for an early bus ride to Whistler, 2.5 hours, then catch another bus to Olympic Park, about 25 minutes, then a shuttle to the mag and bag (security check in) then a walk, about 50 yards to the media room. I'm here at Whistler Olympic Park for ski jumping. I'm only here to shoot the Colorado skiers, once they jump, then do it all over again to head back to Vancouver to shoot Figure Skating. Rachael Flatt will compete tonight. I'll uploads photos after figure skating tonight. When it's all said and done, total time on buses is about 5.5 hours.

Day 11

Yesterday I spent some time downtown before I had to pick up my ticket for the Ice Dance competition so I shot some features around the Media Center. Lot of people on the streets collecting pins fro pin traders who set up there mats filled with pins on the sidewalk. Then I wondered over to the Olympic Cauldron where there were a mass of people there taking pictures. Olympic officials first put a fence around the perimeter to keep the people away. Then much complaining done by the people, they cut part of the fence and replaced it with plexiglass leaving about a four inch gap in the fence, enough to get a lens through to take a photo. It's a pretty cool site to see. After about 30 minutes or so on the street making photos, I rushed back to the Media center to pick up my ticket for the Ice Dance competition for that night. I spent half the night there shooting Ice Dance and then had to leave to shoot a story the reporter was writing about a local curling club in Richmond. A forty dollar cab ride from where the Ice Dance was to there. OUCH! Oh well, enjoy the photos.

Ice Dance

Features

Kids at figure skating and curling

Super-G and Short Track

Woke up early again yesterday at 5 a.m. and headed up the mountain to Whistler Creekside for the Womens' Super-G race. Mancuso ws first out of the gate but couldn't hold on to a Medal time. Vonn ran 17th and managed to get the Bronze. After Vonn raced, myself and two other photogs, Khat Meyer from San Jose Mercury News and Paul Kitigaki from San Francisco Chronicle head out to catch two shuttles then the bus back to Vancouver to catch the short track with Ohno. Ohno stated, "I was in good position in the finals laps, if I hadn't slipped, I would have won the race". He was amazing after the slip to go from last to third edging out the Canadian for Bronze and his seventh Medal in Winter Olympic Games. That's a new record once held by Bonnie Blair. Today I'm at the big game USA vs Canada hockey. Should be fun talk to you soon.

GREAT NEWS!

Congrats to the photo staff at The Denver Post!!

GOLD

* Photo, Multiple photos, series, project or story (American Soldier; Craig Walker, Photographer; Tim Rasmussen; AME/Photography; Jeff Neumann, Lead Designer; J. Damon Cain, ME/Presentation & Design)

SILVER

* Special news topics, editor's choice, local/regional (American solider; Jeff Neumann, Lead Designer; Craig Walker, Photographer; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photography; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design)

Award of Excellence

* Photo, general news (Ian Fisher. “Four-Man” Stack; Craig Walker, Photographer)

* Photo, portfolio, team or staff (John Leyba, Photographer)

* Photo, general news (Comforts of Home; Craig Walker, Photographer)

* Photo, sports (K-Mart rebounds; John Leyba, Photographer)

* Photo, general news (Below the Line: The Martinez family; Judy DeHaas, Photographer)

* Special news topics, Elections/Inauguration (The Inauguration of Barack Obama; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design; Linda Shapely, News Design Director; Matt Swaney, Designer; Ingrid Muller, Creative Director; Kristin Bellini, Designer; Maureen Burnett, Designer; Jacqueline Feldman, Designer; Dave Jenkins, Designer; Jeff Domingues, Designer; Pam Williams, Designer)

* Photo, feature (Aurora Schools start it up; Judy DeHaas, Photographer)

* News page design, A-section (Army and Ian Fischer: An Evolutionary War; Jeff Neuman, Lead Designer; Craig Walker, Photographer; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photography; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design)

* News page design, A-section (Remember; Linda Shapely, News Design Director; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photography)

* Photo, project page or spread (Below the Line: Childhood Poverty In Colorado; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photography; Craig Walker, Photographer; Judy DeHaas, Photographer; Reza Marvashti, Photographer; Joe Amon, Photographer; RJ Sangosti, Photographer; Andy Cross, Photographer; Hyoung Chang, Photographer; J. Damon Cain, ME/Presentation & Design)

* Photo, sports (Tug of war; John Leyba, Photographer)

* Photo page design (Below the Line: Childhood Poverty in Colorado; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photography; Linda Shapely, News Design Director; Matt Swaney, Designer)

* Photo, feature (Supporting Democracy; RJ Sangosti, Photographer)

* Photo, feature (National Western Stock Show; RJ Sangosti, Photographer)

* Breaking news topics, Elections/Inauguration (Hope Over Fear; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design; Linda Shapely, News Design Director; Matt Swaney, Designer; Ingrid Muller, Creative Director; Kristin Bellini, Designer; Maureen Burnett, Designer; Jacqueline Feldman, Designer; Dave Jenkins, Designer; Jeff Domingues, Designer; Pam Williams, Designer)

* Special coverage/single section (Obama; Ingrid Muller, Creative Director; Tim Rasmussen, A.M.E./Photo; J. Damon Cain, M.E./Presentation & Design)

* Photo, sports (Karl No Fan of Refs; Joe Amon, Photographer)

* Photo, general news (Below the line; Reza Marvashti, Photographer)

* Photo, general news (Ian Fisher. In the Army Now; Craig Walker, Photographer)

Curling

Covered the Men's Curling competition at the Vancouver Olympic Centre today. The weather was extremely nice and I really didn't want to be stuck inside. I forgot how long a Curling match can be. The match started at 2 and ended at around 5 p.m. Just finished transmitting photos back soe now I'll be packing up and heading out to catch the bus back to the press center downtown. This is an early night for me, the first since I stared last week. I'll get to have an early dinner and maybe get some much needed sleep tonight. I'm officially fed up with McDonalds, chili and hot dogs. At each media center at each venue, they have concessions their for the media which consists mainly of those items. I think I'll buy some peanut butter and jelly for to make for my lunch. I can tolerate that for a week. All done now so I'm going to pack up and get out of Dodge. Enjoy the photos.

Day 8

I shot Hockey yesterday, USA vs Norway with the USA winning 6-1. I then took a cab to Pacific Coliseum for the finals of the Men's skating. Well, it turned out to be another dramatic night for the USA with Evan Lysacek winning the Gold Medal in the Men Free Skating program beating out the Russian. Today, Friday I will be going out to curling venue. I'll be there most of the day with the curlers. The weather is finally nice. The sun is out and my solar watch is now charging. Signing off now and will Write later on in the day. Bye!

More Photos

Downhill and Halfpipe

HELLLLLO COLORADO!!
Well today was eventful. Started the day at 4 a.m. from the hotel. Had to pack up and hustle out the door to catch a bus to the Main Media Center downtown. From there I caught a bus to Whistler Creekside for the Women's Alpine Downhill competition. The event started at 11:00 a.m. Julia Mancuso won the Siver while Lindsey Vonn took the Gold. It was a fun day to shoot up at Whistler, the weather was awesome, just like being in Colorado. I had to take off a jacket it was that warm, at least for me. From there I hopped on a bus down to the Whistler Media Center where I caught yet another bus to go to Cyprus Mountain to cover the Men's Halfpipe competition featuring USA's Shaun White. We arrived there at 5:45 p.m. and that is late for a 7:15 start for the finals. 86 photogs in two photo areas. What a nightmare. All the good spot were taken so I had to settle for the back row. Being short, that's not good at all. I had to shoot over some tall photogs. When Shaun made his run I got blocked by elbows, cameras, heads you name it, it blocked me. I managed to get a few frames off before totally blocked. After his victory run, he celebrated with a flag, I couldn't see a thing. I quickly had to make a decision and leave my spot and weasel my way to the front to get the shot of him with the flag. All and all it worked out and I made a nice frame of it. Here are some photos from today, enjoy and see ya all later!!

Olympics

Sorry haven't written since opening ceremonies. Saturday I went up to Cyprus for women's moguls. I don't think I ever shot in weather like that before in a long, long time. Caught the bus form media center at 2 and got to the venue at 3. It is raining we we get there. The bus dropped us off at the bottom of the mountain, hiked in about a 1/4 mile to the security, then had to get on another bus to the media center. Still raining. had to be in position at 3:30 for qualifying and walk to the positions in the rain was about 80 yards. By the time I got to the position i was soaked. Shot the qualifying til about 5:45 or so and went in to transmit early stuff. Had to be back out by 6:30 in position. It just kept raining and raining and raining. I think I'm catching a cold. Got to hotel about 1 a.m.

Had a quick breakfast Sunday and went out to shoot Women's Hockey, USA vs China, I stayed there til the second period and left to come to figure skating. Joe Biden was in the audience with family. I'll post photos later tonight. Ciao!!

Opening Ceremonies

I survived the Canon/Nikon photo party last night held at the Vancouer Aquarium. What a nice night to be out there. The food and entertainment was good. Great to see some old friends again. Looking forward to Opening Ceremonies tonight at the BC Place. I'll be sitting in the lower bowl of the venue, I think it's a good view of everything. The weather today is nice at least it's not raining, yet. It was quite winding last night when I got back to my hotel. I hope everyone is going to watch the ceremony should be good from what I hear.

Whistler

Woke up at 4 a.m. this morning and headed out of the hotel to the media
center to catch a bus to Whistler for the women's downhill training day.
Stood on the photo platform from 9:30 to about almost noon waiting for them to start.
It was delayed at first due to poor conditions on the course, fog, and only one
skier made her run. A US skier went next after a short delay and crashed halfway
down. She had to be airlifted off the mountain. By almost noon they cancelled the training for
the day. Packed up and caught the 2 p.m. bus back to Vancouver. I hit back to my hotel
at 5p.m. Time for a nap.

USA Women's Hockey Team

After hanging around at the MPC making sure I got my ticket for the Opening Ceremonies, I decided to go shoot the women's hockey practice at Thunderbird Arena. Mostly to get a feel of the arena and check out shooting positions. The team practiced for about an hour or so before coming off the ice. Saw my buddy Steve Dykes who is the Venue Photo Manager here at the rink. Nice arena and very well lit.