Shoot like a pro: how the best photos of the Paris Olympics were taken

Over the past 16 days we’ve received just shy of one million photographs from the Olympic Games. While many of those images capture moments of unforgettable sporting drama or newsworthiness, others showcase the incredibly artistry of the photographers themselves. Here are some of our favourite images from Paris and beyond, with descriptions and camera data from those who created them.

Skateboarding by David Levene (50mm T/S lens, 1/3200th sec, f/5.0, iso 320)

“This photo was shot with a special ‘tilt-and-shift’ lens which allows you to create a funky zone of focus. I typically use this lens when I’m up high and there’s a good vantage point over a scene because it gives a nice macro feel, like everything’s miniature. I’ve tilted and twisted the front element within the lens to simultaneously get the Eiffel tower and the skater, Sky Brown, in focus as she goes over what they called the ‘volcano’ section of the skate park. This image was shot during a practice run and I like how her fellow competitors are sat around the bowl admiring her.”

Triathlon swimmers by David Goldman (85mm, 1/200th sec, f/1.4, iso 250)

“I wasn’t supposed to be photographing the swim leg of the triathlon, but I found an spot at the second bridge and it was empty. Normally at the Olympics you’re shoulder to shoulder with other photographers, so this was very unusual. It gave me a chance to get something clean and unique. I like how the swimmers are jostling for position – they’re like sardines in a can – it’s so chaotic. The water quality in the Seine had been a big story in the lead up to the event but it didn’t look too bad to me, certainly no worse than Tokyo, which was good news for me because I had to go into the river to photograph the next race!”

Emotional gymnasts by Amanda Perobelli (24-70mm, 1/100th sec, f/2.8, iso 1250)

“The Japanese team were languishing in fifth place at the halfway point of the men’s artistic team competition after a fall by one of their athletes during the second rotation. It looked like it was over for them. But they made an incredible comeback and won the tittle with the very last routine. It was very emotional. The athletes were hugging and moving a lot, going everywhere in an emotional frenzy. I tried to see what was happening around me, not just in front of me. I followed Kazuma Kaya (pictured) and he went to the ground in what seemed to be a mixture of joy, relief and exhaustion. It was like he couldn’t believe he was experiencing that.”

Track cycling by Martin Divíšek (15mm, 1/10th sec, f/10, iso 125)

“This cycling photo was taken using a technique called panning, combined with a slow shutter speed, to illustrate speed. It definitely takes experience and a steady hand to master perfectly smooth movement at the same speed as the riders. Honestly, I don’t always get it right and I still have a lot to learn – luck plays a big part. I had the honour of covering last year’s Tour de France but this was my first time shooting track cycling races. Throughout the whole day at the velodrome you take pictures of several different types of races, one after another, in quick succession. I was glad that there was time during this longer race to take a photo with artistic elements. I like the scenic venue, the bluish lighting and the different coloured jerseys.”

Boxing controversy by Ariana Cubillos (400mm, 1/2500th sec, f/4, iso 2500)

“I didn’t know anything about Imane Khelif at the time I shot the photo. I was just up in the editing room going through some other pictures when I noticed the fight had stopped suddenly, so I quickly reacted and shot some photos with a long lens. The writer next to me explained that one of the boxers had quit amid a row about Khelif’s gender eligibility, so I filed my pictures straight away. It’s not always about how great the picture is, sometimes it’s about the information, the news. This picture is full of information. The Italian boxer is crying; in fact they both look upset. It became a huge moment in the Olympics.”

Marchand underwater by Marko Durica (15-35mm, 1/200th sec, f/2.8, iso 2000)

“Having already won three gold medals before this race, Léon Marchand was the face of 2024 Olympic Games and was aiming for a fourth gold medal in the 200m medley. I put my robotic camera in lane four, where the fastest swimmer from the semi-finals is supposed to swim. The camera was placed at the bottom of the pool, approximately 17 meters from the start. The robot housing was custom made in Germany – it’s so specialised that it’s very difficult to use it. It takes a lot of practice and you don’t get always what you want. I was very happy and grateful when I downloaded the pictures to my laptop, showing this young swimming legend looking straight towards my camera, with a reflection of the swimming pool – like butterfly wings – just at the right spot.”

Olympic rings by Natacha Pisarenko (35mm, 1/125th sec, f/6.3, iso 640)

“People from all over the globe gather at the Olympic cauldron before sunset, waiting for it to rise up. The crowd will all say ‘wow’ at the same time. It’s a magic moment that’s experienced collectively with a bunch of strangers. Whenever I can, I try to pass by to watch it again and choose a different perspective to shoot it. These are the first Olympics where I’ve been able to explore the city during the Games, and that’s my favourite thing. It’s very different to Tokyo where we were locked down and had to be tested every day because of Covid.”

Layers by Héctor Vivas (85mm, 1/1250th sec, f/5.6, iso 5000)

“This image is a digital composite made up from more than 50 individual photographs which have been layered together. I placed my fixed camera at a seat in the stadium and focussed on only half of the field, even though that was risky. After taking images throughout the game came the fun part: putting each layer together to create a single photograph without overlapping the action or players. It was an entertaining and long process because a lot of things had happened in this half of the field: goals, celebrations, action and defeat are all in the same image. I really like the photo because you can spend a lot of time looking and discovering the history of that match in one single image.”

Weightlifting by Mast Irham (247mm, 1/100th sec, f/4, iso 3200)

“For the weightlifting, I wanted to shoot at least two different angles: I shot head-on and then from a side-on photo position to get a closer angle and clearer background. I like shooting from this angle because sometimes I see the lifter’s neck veins and their unique expressions when they start to lift the weight, as happened in this frame when Bozhidar stuck his tongue out.”

Snoop Dogg by Lukasz Kowalski (63mm, 1/1000th sec, f/5, iso 1250)

“During the last Olympic Games, Snoop Dogg put out a funny video about dressage, so I knew it was matter of time before he would show up in Versailles, where all equestrian events were held. One day, I got a message saying he was there and I decided to skip all of the sporting action in the main arena to look for him. I found him fully-dressed in riding clothes, having fun with some riders and playing with one of the horses. I was there no more than three minutes before the security pushed me away. I was the only person there taking photos so I knew these frames were special. But I’ve also been in this business long enough to know that the photos needed to be approved by the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports). A couple of hours later, I got an approval and was able to share the pictures.”

Eiffel Tower at sunset by Anna Szilágyi (17mm, 1/1250th sec, f/5.6, iso 5000)

“This was shot on the first day of the Olympic Games. It had been slightly raining the whole day, but by the early evening you could see the sun coming out. It was a beautiful sunset and I was just grateful. I had to shoot with a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the movement of the athletes while also getting a balanced exposure with the bright field of play and the slightly darker sky. I really love it when Olympic venues are located at beautiful landmarks like this because it gives a wide range of creative opportunities. I also went up to the Eiffel Tower and shot one game from up there.”

Wrestling by Punit Paranjpe (70-200mm, 1/12500th sec, f/2.8, iso 3200)

“I was shooting wrestling for the first time at this Olympics. After observing the first couple of matches, I noticed that the athletes touch each other’s faces many times, which creates very interesting facial expressions. I decided to try some close shots to see if I could capture this. I managed to get this frame after many matches!”

Kayak cross by Tom Jenkins (400mm, 1/3200th sec, f/8, iso 400)

“Kayak cross was a new event at the Olympics this year but I’d shot it before at the world championship so I knew the start could make unusual pictures. The conditions were favourable: it was a sunny day and the scene was heavily backlit, so I knew the water droplets would stand out against the black backdrop. I could’ve exposed for people’s faces if I’d wanted to show their identities, but it was only a quarter-final so I wasn’t interested in who would win or lose. Instead, I wanted to capture the huge splash that almost takes them all out as they hit the water.”

Ukrainian high-jumper by Kai Pfaffenbach (300mm, 1/4000th sec, f/2.8)

“Ukraine’s Mahuchik is the women’s high-jump world-record holder and the ultimate favourite during any competition in her discipline. I’ve been photographing her for years and know her jumping style very well. It’s picturesque. She’s almost in the centre of the bar, her eyes are wide open – almost directly looking into the camera when the photographer has chosen the right spot beforehand. Her eye make-up normally features Ukraine’s national colours, yellow and blue. For that reason, I decided to shoot at 300mm and with an open aperture to freeze the right moment.”

Podium worship by Elsa Garrison (400mm, 1/250th sec, f/3.5, iso 2500)

“To me what makes this picture special is that it embodies the Olympic spirit: athletes supporting and celebrating each other. Throughout the week I had been following Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, the American gymnasts, on social media and in their interviews. They had been singing the praises of the Brazilian gymnast, Rebeca Andrade, so I had a feeling that if Andrade were on the podium they would do something special. My colleagues were photographing the ceremony down on the ‘field of play’, so I went up to the lower bowl and found a spot that was as close to head-on as possible. I chose the lower bowl so that I could still see their faces, but I was also high enough to get a clean background.”

Multiple-exposure by Carmen Mandato (camera specs unknown)

“This is a multiple-exposure made in the camera. Mamadassa Sylla of France is pictured exiting the floor after his match, while the crowd was howling. He had a quiet, focused presence to him, but you could tell he was moved by the roar of the crowd. I was trying to incorporate the atmosphere and his stoic exit, so I shot a multiple-exposure to combine the two. I like how the image has layering, but in the right places so you can still see his features. It’s a busy image, which captures the manic energy of the crowds, especially when cheering on one of their own countrymen.”

Women’s 200m by Cameron Spencer (300mm, 1/2500th sec, f/5.6, iso 2000)

“This image was captured on the bend of the women’s 200m repechage. When athletes run through the bend, they’re on an angle and it makes a graphic shape. I chose to overexpose the image to make the track appear white and the shadows purple (the colour of the track). These elements combined to emphasise the shape of the runners in full flight.”

Sprinter’s joy by Jewel Samad (400mm, 1/200th sec, f/2,8, iso1600)

“In this photo you see Canada’s Jacqueline Madogo reacting after the women’s 200m repechage round. Her expression of happiness truly stood out and caught everyone’s attention. I love how her eyes radiate pure joy! Photographing athletics, especially during the Olympic Games, is always incredibly exciting. It’s a unique experience, capturing moments where the best of the best athletes are competing.”

Handball by Brian Inganga (113mm, 1/200th sec, f/2.8, iso 4000)

“When shooting handball, the game itself is filled with adventures. You just never know what you’ll get on your camera. The photo shows solidarity, sweat and teamwork, while the reactions of all of the players in this frame made me realise that handball is like [a microcosm of] real life.”

Floating surfer photo by Jérôme Brouillet (camera specs unknown)

Brouillet told Instagram: “I like to say that taking pictures is a bit like surfing. It’s a mix of preparation, devotion, timing, some experience and a touch of luck.
On July 29, we knew it would be a great Olympic surfing day. At 9:30:31 am, Gabriel Medina took off on the best wave of the day for a perfect ride. At 9:30:38 am, he jumped out of the wave with a celebration that spread immediately all around the world. Ten minutes later, my mobile starts beeping. It still hasn’t stopped.
That day, Gabriel was in the water at the right place, at the right time – and so was I!”

Simone Biles’s backflip by Francicso Seco (185mm, 1/8th sec, f/11, iso 100)

“Simone Biles is a really cool person to photograph. She’s one of those iconic people, so you can get tense beforehand because you don’t want to mess it up. This photograph was in my mind before I even shot it. I wanted to create something different to the other photographers around me, but you can’t move around because it’s so busy, so you have to create something different using your camera. Of course, before you can take a risky photograph like this, you have to secure the classic action photos, so I started by shooting at a higher shutter speed (1/200th). Then, using a custom preset button on my camera, I quickly swapped to a slower shutter speed (1/8th) for a couple of frames. After the routine had finished I looked at the pictures and thought ‘yes, I got one!’ This is my third Olympics and it was always my dream to be doing this.”

Men’s 100m final by Agustín Marcarian (70-200mm, 1/1600th sec, f/9, iso 6400)

“When I was told that I would be shooting the men’s 100m final – arguably the most important event of the Olympic Games – at the finish line, my teammates and I debated for a few minutes about how we imagined the photo. We decided that it would be preferable to use a (mid-range) 70-200mm lens instead of a (tighter) 400mm lens. When the moment came, the lights went out and the stadium was silent. My heart began to race. I made sure I had a high shutter speed and enough depth of field to cover all lanes of the track. I thought about panning, but I knew it could go wrong and could be a terrible waste. In the end, all that mattered from my position was to freeze the moment – and how well I did! This frame is testimony to the tightest 100m in history.”

Andy Murray’s swansong by Ed Alcock (400mm, 1/1250th sec, f/4, iso 1600)

“I’ve never shot sport before – I’m a portrait and features photographer – so it was a bit of a baptism of fire! I knew it was potentially Andy Murray’s last match after an almost 20-year career and I was terrified I was going to miss the dramatic moment, but actually I think that helps you as a photographer. It was a funny event because it was early in the Games and the arena wasn’t full, not like Rafael Nadal’s match before. But the euphoria when Murray and Dan Evans came back to win for the second successive round – yet another great escape – was really communicative. It was lovely and poignant to see Murray so happy.”

Golden ring by Hannah McKay (70-200mm, 1/2500th sec, f/2.8, iso 1600)

“Rhythmic gymnastics is quite a high-energy sport where the athletes dance around to music, using different apparatus to show their skills. Points are deducted if they drop the apparatus. On this particular occasion, Polina Berezina of Spain dropped her hoop during the individual all-around qualifiers. She ran after it, but she wasn’t quick enough and it rolled off the stage into the area where the photographers sit. Berezina had to carry on her performance with a spare hoop. I’m sure she didn’t see the funny side of it, but it was quite an amusing moment photographing the hoop rolling past me.”

Athletes from above by David J Phillip (100mm, 1/200th sec, f/5.6, iso 4000)

“This image was shot using a Sony A1 camera on a robotic head that was mounted on a truss in the stadium’s roof. After two days and ten events, these decathlon competitors are showing their emotions and competitive spirit by coming together as a group. I think the Olympic rings and the positions of the medalists on the bottom row (in traditional podium order) also make the image special.”