What made it challenging was the confirmation all the photographers were forced to sign prior to the competition (see PDF): basically all video, all recording of audio, all presentation of still images in animated form (i.e sequential shots in gif-format etc.) were stricktly forbidden. Basically, everything but a stationary still image was not to be used in the net.
As I had been preparing to do most of those things, suddenly not only plan-A, but also plan-B and C went down the drain.
I conferred with my journalist and in ten minutes we came up with the following plan: we'd present each day an imagegallery with a one, two paragraphs of introductory text and no ambient audio. Not necessarily of the days competition, but we'd pick a topic of particular interest each day. I was lucky enough to work with ms Elina Paasonen, who is maybe the best skating journalist in the country and also a proficient photographer.
Eventually we came up with these eight galleries. Althought the text is in Finnish, you might enjoy the imagery. I added audio to two of them: Gwendal Peizerat (World Champion and Olympic winner) was kind enough to lend his commentary on the finnish skaters and on the games in general; another one is Kiira Korpi explaining her choice of music for her free program.
As the audio was done from outside the venue, no rules (however stupid) were broken.
For the closing Gala we decided to go visual big time and just shoot artistic: I covered the first half from high up and second from the corner (elevated), Elina covered the sideline (also elevated position).
The choice of going for monochrome (both selenium and sepia toned) was a deliberate one and not motivated by trying to be "artistic": lots of the images were shot during the practise sessions, when the skaters typically wear black or other "dull" colors. The lighting in the practise rink was very bad and the sides covered - or should I say cluttered -with bright ads. Had I shot in color all the attention of the viewer would have been on the bright colors on the background.
Ari-Pekka Nurmenkari, short program
Carolina Kostner reaching for her 3rd gold
Gwendal Peizerat and commentary of the finnish skaters (with audio)
Kiira Korpi and her remarks on her choice of music (with audio)
This is a slideshow of some tearsheets I managed to get my hands into. Some good, some bad, some really good, some...
I consider the "theme pages" of Aamulehti to be one of the best I have seen so far in Finland.