Day 2 Women's Gymnastics Warmup

Along with taking some shots of women's gymnastics final major run through, I decided to test the security system of the Games...I won!

Waking to the roar of jet engines at the London City Airport across the Thames from the UEL campus, I was up rather early.  Nothing like starting the day with a "Full Breakfast:" fried egg, baked beans, bacon, tomatoes, toast....mmmm.  I was set for the day.  I needed to head back to the Media Center to get my photo vest and backpack which will now do me as souvenirs of the Games.  Both are really nice and the vest will do me well in any photo work I do in the future.  I also picked up my ticket for the Opening Ceremony Friday night...you ought to watch it, it's very British.

It was then off to the Aquatic Center to try to figure out the lighting. I have been very displeased with the photos I have taken there.  I am not getting my hopes up about doing any great photography there.  But then I headed off to the North Greenwich Arena across the river for the Podium event with Women's Gymnastics.  France, GB, USA and mixed nation group rotated among the four elements...vault, floor, uneven bars and balance beam.  Unlike the Aquatic Center here the lighting is perfect and I got some great shots of the women.  I will post a few below.

As I was leaving a Sargent with the 42 Commando, Royal Marines came up to me and asked if I could help him and his unit with a task.  He was writing an article for The Globe and Laurel, their unit publication and needed some photos to illustrate it.  The article is to be about the unit helping with security at the Games.  So, he got several of his men who were there to pose in different ways to show that they are on top of all threats to the Crown.  His men laughed at some of the poses but the Sarg had specific things in mind for the photos.  I got them all to pose individually in front of the Olympic Rings...how many times do you get them as a back drop for a photo?

Now about my attack on security.  I noticed that just up the river from UEL there are two rather large cruise ships docked.  I thought I would get off the DLR (Docklands Light Rail) stop before mine and check out the ships.  So I got off...walked up the path...walked around the security tent and  into the parking lot for all the buses for the Olympics.  When I saw that there was a fence keeping people like me out of the ships I stopped into the Bus Director's office...he...with a rather shocked look said..."hello, may I help you?"  I told him my wish to see the ships and he very politely responded..."well, sir, you aren't exactly supposed to be anywhere around here....how did you get in?" "I walked in"  His face went a bit pale at this point and he suggested that he walk me back to the entrance.  A very soft spoken young man was there and jumped up when he saw us approach.  My friend introduced me as someone who had gotten by the security check.  The young man looked rather startled.  And didn't have much to say other than he had been sitting there the whole time.  Which he had.  So the director asked me how I got in.  I took him to the other side of the tent and showed him that there was a 10 foot opening that allowed anyone to enter one of the most secure places in the Games.  I smiled and the director's parting words were: " please don't let anyone know."  So, I won't.

Here are a handful of the some 2000 photos I took today.  I am glad I cleaned off my laptop.