Denise Biellmann

I took this photo of Denise Biellmann in Frankfurt, West Germany in the winter of late 1981 or early 1982. I really don't know what the date was, but photo.net insists on having one so I pulled one out of my hat. All I really know is the approximate time frame.

 

 

Ms Biellmann was the first skater in the world to do the Biellmann spin shown here. It was her signature move. Under todays rules she would most likely have won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics. She was second in the short program, and first in the long. Problem was she was not very good at the compulsary figures routine which is no longer part of the competition. She was twelfth in those and that cost her a medal.

Comments welcomed.

Larry

Every time I see someone post older work I want to go out and buy a top shelf scanner that does negatives and slides. I have a ton of old captures going back to the late 60's.

This is a very nice capture. Do you remember what kind of lighting was used at this moment. Was it just follow spots?

I worked the 1980 Olympics for ABC Sports but I don't remember Ms Biellmann. Though I can hardly remember last week :-)

Jim

Thank you Jim. I know what you mean with regards to memory. I am having a lot of senior moments myself of late. As far as lighting, the only illumination was spot lights. The film was Kodak 400 ASA tungsten balanced slide film pushed two stops. Last night I saw some other skating images on photo.net and decided to pull up a scan of it and play around. Just for grins I converted it to black and white.

 

At the time this was taken I had been printing color negatives for a couple of years. This photo served as a platform for my first Cibachrome however. It was a lot of fun as I recall. The resultant 11 X 17 print hung on my wall for about ten years until someone made an offer I couldn't refuse.

 

You mentioned you did the 80 Olympics for ABC. Did you perchance do the 72 ones as well? I was in Munich for those and for obvious reason will never forget them.

No, I did not work the 72 games. I was a university student then. Ah! those were the days.

They were indeed. Our waistlines were smaller and our knees didn't hurt nearly so much. :)

You guys sure have been around the world in your lives! I have to do it here. And it is a lovely photo!

Thank you Kim. Of all the photos I have taken, I have always been partial to this one. I really can't tell you why. I am thinking about doing another Cibachrome of it. But this time I am going to let the lab up in Fort Collins have all the fun.

 

Re travel, I am glad I got the chance to see a few places. But these days I am really content just to see the Rocky Mountains. And I hate flying any more. Short of actually crashing or being hijacked, I think I have experienced every conceivable airplane related disaster.

Does that include the disastrous food? :) Couldn't resist, alas, you rarely even get that anymore! Oh well. As for this shot, I'm glad you dug it out. What a beautiful picture she makes. You timed this well and the lighting is just right. I'm curious about it in color, but I really think B&W does this justice. Leslie

At least you haven't crashed or been hijacked! I'll bet you have a bunch of old pictures from your travel days...any more you want to share?

Thank you Leslie. Long time no see.

 

In a print this photo definately looks better in color. But on a computer monitor I kind of prefer it in black and white.

I'll have to comb through my archives for old photos. But honestly I have enough trouble processing the new ones I keep taking. :)