Inside AFP
Paris, the Capital of Sports through the lens of AFP photographers
Conceived by Stefano Rellandini, Deputy Photo Editor for France, AFP presents an exceptional photo series featuring French athletes posing at iconic sites in Paris and Versailles.
In the run-up to the Olympic Games, AFP unveils a collection of 25 portraits of athletes, most of whom are set to compete in the Paris Games. The striking images showcase the athletes at some of the capital's most renowned locations, including the National Library of France, the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Apollo Basin, as well as the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.
"The idea was to take them out of the stadium and on a tour of Paris's iconic sites," explained Joël Saget, one of the three AFP photographers who collaborated on the project with Stefano Rellandini and AFP Sports photographer, Franck Fife.
-
1 / 25 -
2 / 25 -
3 / 25 -
4 / 25 -
5 / 25 -
6 / 25 -
7 / 25 -
8 / 25 -
9 / 25 -
10 / 25 -
11 / 25 -
12 / 25 -
13 / 25 -
14 / 25 -
15 / 25 -
16 / 25 -
17 / 25 -
18 / 25 -
19 / 25 -
20 / 25 -
21 / 25 -
22 / 25 -
23 / 25 -
24 / 25 -
25 / 25
Beyond the artistic effort, the photo series required meticulous planning to align the athletes' schedules during their selection or training phases with the availability of the prestigious locations. Sessions were arranged for early mornings, late evenings, or on days the sites were closed, all while taking the weather into account.
"These are exceptional locations, and we had them to ourselves for a few moments. We couldn't afford to miss the shot; it added an extra layer of pressure," Saget added.
The three photographers worked together on every session, managing lighting, setup, and shooting. Their objective was "to achieve the best results in a very short time. Everyone brought their ideas to the table," said Stefano Rellandini.
"The last time I came to the Musee d’Orsay, it must have been on a school trip so it’s a little different today," said Matthias Dandois, a nine-time BMX world champion, while taking photos among the statues.
"I love the collaboration between an athlete and a photographer because we have a pretty clear opinion on what we want the photo to look like. It's great to find common ground and create the best possible shot," Dandois added.