Photographer ripped for unusual Olympic photos
The image you see above of gymnast Nastia Liukin is the type of photo that we are accustomed to seeing in the months leading up to the Olympic Games. The athletes typically strike various poses against simple backgrounds. Oftentimes, the athletes will be standing in front of their country’s flag. It is the Olympics, after all.
On particular photographer, Joe Klamar, decided to switch things up a bit at the USOC media summit back in May. Now, he’s being ripped for it. Klamar took photos of various U.S. athletes in front of unusual backgrounds with strange color shadings. The images themselves are difficult to describe, so here are a few examples:
These photos have not been well-received. Here is an example of the type of feedback Klamar’s work has been subject to on Reddit and other social media sites.
“wow… he’s trying something new for press shots, concealing some details in shadows… using FOV and perspective to distort subjects in a not-so appealing way… Oh wait, these haven’t been processed… Wow they’re getting worse… Ok this wasn’t on purpose…these are terrible…”
The photos have been described as “shoddy” and “unprofessional.” Many believe Klamar intentionally aimed for that effect, while others feel that the photos are so terrible that there is no way someone could have done this on purpose. As Yahoo! Sports pointed out, one photographer called the work “an embarrassment to our country and my profession.”
Whether you’re a fan of the photos or not, there’s no denying that they are unusual and unique. As we saw with the outrage that was created over Great Britain’s uniforms, issues like these become very sensitive around Olympic time.
Photo credit: Joe Klamar/Getty Images
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Chill! The photographer a his subjects are enjoying the moment. Enjoy the Olympics.
Go USA
DJF -
Chill! the photographer and his subjects are enjoying the moment. Enjoy the Olympics. Go USA. DJF
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Everyone needs to relax. Seems like the athletes are enjoying themselves.
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I take it no one is allowed to be original anymore?!? EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I like what I see. :D -
I gather that no one can be original anymore?!? EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I like what I saw in the photographs. :D -
These photos are superior in every way to the "usual" shots simply because they portray REAL people and not manikins! I hear real envy/jealousy on the part of the critics. Ya can't beat em, bash em! No class at all.
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Everybody's a critic...what's not to like?
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The Phelps one is pretty cool I think. He is the only one I know by name. The track guy looks like he is getting ready to paint his living room or something and the girls' smile looks forced. Like she saying come on already this is 10th time I've done this. I do like the fact that they tried something though.
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i thought jimmy Carter did everything to do with peanuts years back!
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to make the comment that: "Whether you’re a fan of the photos or not, there’s no denying that they are unusual and unique." and call this unusual and unique is where the problems come from... there is nothing unusual or "unique" about this.... this looks like the work of an amateur and it shouldn't be used for a professional use. What he's done has no balance to it! It would've been unique and unusual if it had some kinda balance to it... I thought someone caught the images before all post work is done on them.... but I guess not... this work should have not made it to public let alone used for our Olympic team....
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Great works of art ! A beautiful protrayal of these young athletes as the real flower of youth they are!
