On November 8th, we welcome a special day today - China's Journalist Day. When it comes to journalists, scenes of them reporting on the front lines of news often come to mind. The journalist community is a group worthy of everyone's respect. They often restore the truth of facts with an on-site presence and objective stance.

In the marathon and trail running events that many running enthusiasts are very passionate about, there is also such a special group -Marathon photographersNowadays, wherever there are marathon or trail running events, you will definitely see their presence. Many runners might think this job is easy and glamorous, but in fact, it is not as comfortable as everyone imagines.

To capture the exciting moments of each participant,marathon photographers also need to start early and work late, carrying heavy equipment for hours of continuous shooting during the race.In sunny weather, they get sunburned; in rainy weather, they get soaked; and on cloudy days, the photo quality is often unsatisfactory. On this special day, let's understand the difficulties of this job through the responses of four marathon photographers and hear what they have to say~

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After shooting so many races, what is your most unforgettable shooting experience?

@Photographer Tommy:The 2017 Wuxi Marathon, because it was my first rain battle, I experienced hypothermia and captured a beautiful black cat.

@Black Cat:My most unforgettable shooting experience was the 2017 Shanghai Mud Run, because it was my first and most complete experience of a race photographer's pre-race, during-race, and post-race work.

Before the race, we spent 3 hours walking the course, studying the obstacles, and getting bitten by hungry mosquitoes. This is essential pre-race work for photographers, which I didn't know before. It turns out that their exposure to the elements is not just during the race. Moreover, I found that they are meticulous in their work and also very capable and ritualistic in life. The night before the race, I attended a big party with the Aiyundong photographers by the lake with beer and barbecue. It was so delicious and fun! I still miss Teacher Song's secret peanuts and edamame.

During the race, the first batch started at 9:00, but we arrived at the scene at 6:30. It was very hot that day, the sun was scorching, and entering the course was not smooth sailing but involved wading through mud and grass. So don't think photographers just squat and mechanically press the shutter and wait for tips. After a day of shooting, I got sunburned, and the black cat turned into Black Cat 2.0. A photographer named White Tea turned into Oolong Tea, and a classmate named Lamb turned into Roast Lamb.

In the high temperatures, some photographers couldn't eat or drink, some suffered from heatstroke, and some even went to the hospital for IV drips. But they had no complaints, only blaming themselves for not capturing more runners and preserving precious memories for them. By the way, during that race, I also met Yideng, who came specifically for me. I feel really grateful to meet so many people like him on the road of sports.

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As a running enthusiast, what serendipity led you to become a marathon photographer?

@Black Cat:From runner to photographer, maybe it's because I look particularly beautiful when I run? Hahaha (Black Cat's barbell-like laughter is heard from afar), then I successfully caught the attention of the photographers, and we got to know each other, and I became a photographer. Peng! Editor, can you cut the previous part? I got too into the role.

Actually, I got to know a group of amazing photographers while running, like Feng11, Super Time, and Tommy. They look really cool when they take photos, and their photos carry our memories of running. Plus, they are very interesting when we sit down to drink and eat meat together. So, I wanted to try crossing over and be a cool person like them, capturing runners' memories with my camera.

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A large race might require taking tens of thousands of photos. Do you find it tedious after taking so many?

@Photographer Tommy:I often think while shooting, who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? Then I put down the camera, walk off the course, and have a cigarette. Okay, I can continue shooting the participants now.

Basic equipment needed for race photography

@Ye Leeye:The excitement of shooting a marathon is no less than running one. From the elite runners leading the pack to the masses flooding in later, their whole being is filled with enthusiasm, igniting you from head to toe. 'Here, here, take a picture, thank you.' 'Miss, are you tired? Take a picture here, thank you.' Most marathon runners are sunny and handsome, so photographing such interesting and polite people is not tiring at all.

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So far, what do you think is the most satisfying photo you've taken?

@Photographer Tommy:The 2017 Guangzhou Marathon. It's the one where Shen Wuze was saying goodbye. Very natural, completely candid.

@Ye Leeye:My most satisfying photo is of a runner at the Harbin Marathon. His physique was not the typical lean build of marathon elites. By the 17-kilometer mark where I was, his running form was already a bit distorted, and he looked tired, but his eyes were filled with tears, and he was gritting his teeth to persevere. What I saw in his eyes were two words: determination.

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Do you think being a marathon photographer is tough?

@Black Cat:Yes, it's really tough. If runners measure distance with their feet, then photographers freeze memories with their shutters. I once thought they were cool when I encountered them on the course, but now I think this job is really tough. However, behind the hardship, there are also unexpected joys. But I am willing to continue with them, smiling and feeling satisfied with each download, and finding joy in the hardship.

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As a marathon photographer, what do you think is the biggest challenge in this job?

@Dai Wuyan:The biggest challenge is that there is no such thing as a 'marathon photographer' title, but we can only use this term to describe it. Marathon photography is the entry-level of sports photography, with almost no difficulty in shooting. Without difficulty, there is not much value. This has led to an oversaturation of marathon photographers.

@Photographer Tommy:The biggest difficulty might not have been encountered yet, but a persistent issue that needs to be addressed is how to improve single-race coverage while maintaining quality. These are two conditions that contradict the laws of physics: if you shoot quickly, the quality won't be good; if you shoot well, you won't cover much.

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Do marathon photographers love to photograph beautiful women? Do you pay special attention to looks when taking photos?

@Dai Wuyan:Everyone likes beautiful women, otherwise, there wouldn't be terms like 'beauty economy.' Photographers are no exception. When encountering beautiful women, photographers will take more shots, including myself. However, true race photographers who serve the public won't always pay attention to looks. When a large number of participants arrive, the time to take a photo of each person is only about 1 second. There's no time to react to whether someone is beautiful or handsome. Especially in large races like those in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, when taking tens of thousands of photos, you almost only know that one participant after another is passing through your lens, and you can't even distinguish between men and women.

@Photographer Tommy:Generally speaking, yes. During shooting, we pay special attention to runners with nice outfits. Of course, if we encounter a beautiful woman, the lens will follow her for half a second to a second longer, resulting in about ten more shots. However, in terms of looks, it might not be easy to distinguish a runner's appearance from ten meters away through the lens.

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Do you think a marathon photographer with excellent photography skills can become a marathon expert?

@Photographer Tommy:I think it's possible. At least they should have a few experiential runs, including finishing a half marathon in under 2 hours and a full marathon in under 4 hours. Currently, my goal is to complete a half marathon.

@Dai Wuyan:Photography and running are two completely different things. Many marathon photographers were originally marathon runners who later joined the photography team. But if a photographer wants to become a runner, it's also possible. For example, me. But to become an expert, it still depends on talent.

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Besides marathon photography, do you usually shoot other things?

@Photographer Tommy:Besides marathons, I also shoot car races, extreme sports, various outdoor sports, and social news. Of course, I also cover various meetings, commercial events, and my life records. You could say that my camera, which I use almost as much as my phone, is always with me.

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What do you think is the significance of the marathon photographer profession for runners?

@Ye Leeye:When I shoot marathons, I am more often running marathons. From a runner's perspective, no race should be forgotten. The inner struggles, the desire for a personal best, the joy of crossing the finish line—all these moments should be captured by time, to tell oneself or someone who can empathize. Photographers are listeners and recorders for runners.

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To take photos of the runners, photographers indeed put in a lot of effort.

What is the one thing you most want to say to the runners?

What do you most hope runners will say to you?

@Dai Wuyan:The effort and reward for marathon photographers are not proportional. I just want to say, please don't get too close to the lens; distance creates beauty. I hope runners can understand the difficulties of photographers and pay for truly good photos. This is the greatest support for photographers.

@Photographer Tommy:Photography is a profession with its own special demands and ethics. So enduring hardship is our choice. If I had to say one thing to runners, it would be: recognize my pre-announced position and strike a pose!When runners tell me they are satisfied with the photos I took, that is the most gratifying affirmation.

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Conclusion

After reading these photographers' interviews, do you have a deeper understanding of the profession and work of marathon photographers?If you want to learn more about marathon photography techniques, check out Dai Wuyan's article full of useful tips~"The Most Popular Marathon Poses Photographers Love to Capture!"

Capturing the highlights and exciting moments of each runner is the pursuit of every photographer.If you find a photo of yourself that you are very satisfied with after the race, please support, encourage, and tip these hardworking race photographers~ This is their greatest motivation.

Finally, as a marathon runner, what would you like to say to the photographers who have taken photos of you before? Leave a comment and share your thoughts! We will select 2 lucky runners to receive exquisite Codoon gear!