The following two posts are from photo blogger Kecin German’s Wondering Light blog, thanks to John Kennedy of Global Voices:
I attended my second Olympic event today. Some friends were kind enough to give me a ticket for the men’s weightlifting prelims. I didn’t stay too long but long enough to make an overall photo showing the empty seats for the venue that was said to be sold out.
And then to contrast that, I came upon the people that the government asks to go fill those seats at live televised games. They are called Cheer Beijing Workers. They wear funky yellow T-shirts and red caps. There were hundreds of them walking to the Worker’s Stadium for the USA vs. Japan women’s soccer match. They are told to sit directly in front of the TV cameras at any given arena and to cheer for China … so I’ve been told.
I was out shooting today when I came up on a confrontational scene. I was trying to make a few photos with my 24/1.4 lens at the time so I was under lensed. Two secret police were arresting a scalper near the Worker’s Stadium. I immediately began shooting frames. One of the officers pushed me back and held me there.
I waited for a moment and watched the detained man. He was going to struggle again in a few moments. I slowly changed to my 35/1.4 lens, a far more reliable lens for me. Sure enough the man struggled once again and the officer holding me lunged back towards the man. I waited again for them to turn towards my way and then I moved in and started photographing.
