David Ashdown's sports picture diary: Beijing Olympics - The Birds Nest

David Ashdown
Friday 15 August 2008 00:00 BST
Comments
(DAVID ASHDOWN)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

David Ashdown was in Beijing covering the 2008 Olympic Games

It's the first day of athletics and that's always a good point in the Olympics as it marks the half way point. It's the place I will be spending some part of each day and this shot shows the photographer's platform that will be rather more full tomorrow for the mens 100m final. This is also only the second day there has been no smog in the air and that the far end of the stadium has been visible. We all hope it stays like this because the quality of pictures taken on long focal length lens through smog become worse the further away you get. Maybe they can get some very big fans to blow it away if it comes back, or some rain to wash it away but then we would get wet, but that's a small price to pay for clear pictures!

Picture taken on a Nikon D3, 14mm lens, aperture F9.0, shutter speed 1/160th of a second

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in