online exclusive.
With Glowing Hearts, and quick shutters.
New 2010 Olympic book features local photographers.
By Feet Banks
- STERLING LORENCE PHOTO – “I liked the very intense moments of Olympic History. It was breathtaking to be a part of. I was one of the lucky ones who got to be inside that obnoxious fence.”
If you thought you enjoyed the 2010 Olympic Games, wait until you see a copy of the book With Glowing Hearts and check out the mindblowing Olympic images of Whistler photographer Blake Jorgenson and born-and-raised North Vancouver shutter master Sterling Lorence. 
Awarding winning photographers and frequent Mountain Life contributors, Jorgenson and Lorence were approached by VANOC to cover all the best parts of the Olympics and Paralympics and given access to places few others could go., even the changerooms at the figure skating venues. Blake focused mainly on the Whistler events with Sterling holding it down in Vancouver.
With Glowing Hearts is set to hit shelves in early June but Mountain Life caught up with both photographers to get the inside scoop.
Mountain Life – How did you guys get this job?
Sterling Lorence – VANOC researched homegrown talent capable of capturing the games in an “action sport/documentary” style and I guess our names came up multiple times from multiple sources. I got called in for some interviews and given the green light.
- BLAKE JORGENSON – Start line of the Whistler Sliding Centre
ML –Was there ever a moment where you stopped and looked around in disbelief at where you were and what was happening?
Blake Jorgenson – Yeah, constantly in disbelief. I think the thing that blew me away was how organized everything was and the level of enthusiasm. Canadians are usually pretty passive when it comes nationalism and sports events. European soccer matches and NFL tailgate parties really go off and it was good to see Canadians go crazy like that. It was just positive chaos all the time, like New Year’s Eve every day.
Sterling Lorence – The opening ceremonies. I had access to shoot Wayne Gretzky lighting the outdoor cauldron and the anticipation/excitement/intensity was thrilling. It was night, pouring rain, windy. The crowd was screaming, security everywhere. Fireworks exploding, military heli’s and boats on all corners, snipers…and I had to nail long-exposure torch shots from atop a 15-foot ladder. That was rad.
- STERLING LORENCE – “Jennifer Heil had the weight of the country on her back, trying to bring home the first gold medal ever to Canada. Moments before dropping into her silver medal run and she is having a quiet moment with her sports psychologist helping keep it all in perspective and keep the nerves down. The intensity and intimidation between the athletes and coaches at the top was thick. you could easily feel what was on the line.”
ML – Did VANOC give you a list of stuff they wanted?
Sterling Lorence – They said, “Just shoot it the way it makes you most stoked.” Hats off to VANOC for giving us the carte blanche.
ML – What was the most challenging part of this project?
Sterling Lorence – The weather. As a photographer with electronic gear, needing dry clean optics, the rainy days were brutal. Also I found the heats/events/games moved along really quickly. If I saw something I liked and didn’t get the shot, it would likely not happen again. It forced me to think fast and always have two cameras/focal lengths ready around my neck at all times.
But the buzz of the games is so special and that was multiplied by our athletes winning gold so often. It was a dream job that lasted 20 days.
Blake Jorgenson – For me, getting the kind of access Sterl had was actually a bit tricky. I only had spectator passes and in order to go deeper I had to meet venue managers or weasel my way in there. It was sort of a semi-espionage job of getting around and getting into some of the spots. Being local and knowing people that were working or affiliated helped out a lot.
Buy With Glowing Hearts where ever books are sold or check out Blake’s Gallery in Whistler’s Westin Hotel. Also hit up blakejorgenson.com or sterlinglorence.com
- BLAKE JORGENSON– Whistler Medals Plaza
- STERLING LORENCE–Shen and Zhao –figure skaters. “It was a treat being able to witness the world’s finest athletes going through warm-up rehearsals and seeing what they do. it also happens very quickly and not on schedule so i certainly did my share of drifting around and sniffing out moments…i was shocked to see shen and zhao doing most of their tricks on the concrete…but i guess it’s no harder than ice….”
- BLAKE JORGENSON– Whistler Sliding Centre.
- STERLING LORENCE –“Men’s hockey gold medal game at the Yaletown Live site. The intensity of the third period was hard to be part of. The nation was nervous and i think we were more worried about losing the gold than excited to win. The expressions on people’s faces were easy to decipher. The tying goal late in the third was written all over everyone…amazing to shoot the expressions.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
thanks guys…i miss the olympics and this story brought back some good memories. i felt compelled to write because i picked up your new summer issue in whis today. holy crappers, the photography in your magazine is some of the best i’ve seen in any mag. such diversity, color, wwwow!! and the writing deserves a thumbs up too….i think a crew of us are gonna tackle the Crest Trail this summer.
hope you guys have a great summer!!
luv T
thanks for the kind words Tanya. have fun on the hike.