Fastest photographer on the track
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There was a second lightning bolt on the track with Jamaica’s Usain Bolt on Sunday night, Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach. Below Kai talks about what it was like to keep up with the fastest man in the world.
You can see Kai in action in this You Tube video.
Despite setting up two remote cameras at the finish line myself, my colleague Michael Dalder (aka the remote king) set up six remotes and secured the best pictures of the finish line (above).
Kai keeps up with Usain Bolt after the men’s 100 meters final at the world athletics championships at the Olympic stadium in Berlin August 16, 2009. EPA/DPA Hannibal Hanschke
I shot the finish line handheld on a 135mm Canon Mark3 and had an EOS5D Mk 2 with a 16-35mm ready on my lap. Bolt was running so fast on the outer curve that I decided to take a shortcut and cut the curve and catch up with him on the other side of the stadium, ahead of the other snappers. Running beside the world record holder, I was shooting on 1000 ISO at 1/800 sec f2.8.
This was my tenth 100m final including Olympics and World Championships. It definitely was the most exciting race. Of course I knew before the race that I would have to chase him but I didn’t expect him to be going that fast!
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The Wall
Great blog… I watched this live and remarked at how adept you camera guys were!! very cool to read about the world record finish from your perspective. I love the info about the cameras and am most impressed that you could shoot at 1/800th of a second!
i saw and told my wife that the photo guy was out to get the first photos of BOLT as it would be a graet coup for him, he did a gtreat job,congrats
Well done Kai. You got up some speed there!
Great photographer.excellent art of work
Incredible race. Having a plan is the only way to have a bleep of a chance at capturing anything worthwhile in a race that is over in nine and one half seconds. It’s incredible that you have more than a blur.Great shots…
Having the fastest photographer makes your media the most interesting! I love how you mention details of the camera, and I am looking forward to getting a similar type to enjoy photography. Thanks for the info! Yola-Nigeria
Informative entry. This gives me perspective of photographers in action.
I Love it. I sat in my living room in Kingston Jamaica and saw you running to catch Bolt. I feel like I’m hearing the inside story now. More More More
Wonderful blog post! It’s nice to get the camera persons perspective and a sense of the skill/effort involved.
Both of you guys and Bolt are excellent in your own field….
kudos to him for this excellent piece of work. Very motivating for the upcoming photographers…cheers!
We couldn’t help laughing: Usain Bolt jogging along and Kai sprinting to get ahead to get the shot. Funny, but it was worth it.
iNFACT THIS GUY IF OUTSTANDING AND VERY PHENOMINAL. tHE PHOTO GUY IS REAL FAST
It’s wonderful to be alive to witness this. I watched it live in my living room and all i could mutter was wow!!! I think Bolt is more than just superhuman.
CAMERA BOLT!!….It’s amazing to see how Mr.Kai got the first fresh snaps of THE BOLT….well done sir!..The photography jargon makes me drool!!…I’m getting mine, a smaller one..
Nice photos, I think your sprint technique needs work though…try to get your knees up more like Usain does
worthwhile run to get the shot though!
not the same person dont try to deceive
Rumour has it that it was not Bolt than got the new world record but infact Kai
Jamaica has the fastest man on track Usain Bolt and reuters has the fastest photographer Kai Pfaffenbach
Yuh SICK wid it my YUTE!!!!Faster than a speeding bullet…more powerful than a locomotive…out on the track…it\’s a bird, it\’s a plane, it\’s INSANE…It\’s Usain Bolt!!!!You are ALL NATURAL, UNADULTERATED, RAW INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH POWER!!!Thank you, thank you, thank you my brother!
Excellent work and timming.
Nice work Kai, as a Jamaican and a photography nut, this was a proud moment for me. Gold medal for Bolt, Gold Medal for Kai.