Sport
Behind the lens with an award-winning sports photographer
Published 1047 GMT (1847 HKT) May 31, 2017
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The sun was beginning to set over the Marina da Glória and award-winning sports photographer Clive Mason was finishing up for the day. All he needed was that one perfect shot and, "as if by magic," Cypriot windsurfer Andreas Cariolou glided directly past the press boat as he made his way to shore. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Sailors are not averse to "playing up" for the cameras, jokes Mason, telling CNN the more brazen showboaters will deliberately seek to sail past the working press. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
But the photographer's craft is also about intensely "personal" moments. Mason says he was "lucky" to get the opportunity to shoot Australian sailor Nathan Outteridge washing down his boat in this pragmatic, four or five days before the hustle and bustle of Olympic competition. "I love this picture," Mason says, telling CNN Sport he and his fellow professionals sometimes find themselves forming bonds with the athletes they cover over the years, quietly sharing their moments of victory. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
As the events started and windsurfers, dinghies and skiffs flew by in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain, Mason freely admits Rio 2016 became as much about the topography as the sailing talent. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
At times, the photographers had to remind themselves what they were actually there to shoot, he tells CNN. After all, "not every picture could look like a chocolate box." Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
This image, taken "late in the afternoon" on the Copacabana, depicts the "abstract" sails of the Finn fleet positioned directly below Christ the Redeemer. It's a photo that could adorn the wall of any home; indeed, Mason confirms he's had numerous requests for prints. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
But there was a whole lot more to Rio 2016 than triumphant topography. In this image, Mason captures the exact moment Giles Scott realizes he has sealed the gold medal for Great Britain. It's the final product of careful planning on the part of the photographer -- Scott's lead was already unassailable the day before the medal race. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Mason describes the image of Scott's elation as "one the nicest, cleanest" he's ever taken -- telling CNN Sport the ultimate aim is always "a picture that tells a story with a key moment, key athlete and beautiful light." But sometimes it's about pure action. Here, a member of the Nacra 17 Olympic fleet fights with testing winds on the Rio waters. Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
The photographer was "in the lap of the Gods" for this shot as he hung from side of a boat and utilized an underwater housing. Finely framed, "the crest of the water leads into the shape of the sail." Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
"Whatever you're doing, its a huge sacrifice," Mason concludes, admitting it can be difficult spending so much time away from family. But after covering four Olympic sailing regattas, hundreds of F1 races and numerous FIFA World Cups, this photographer has no intention of quitting. Interested in professional sports photography? Find out how to capture the world's fastest drivers Clive Mason/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
