New 'E&P' Feature: Getty Picks Its 'Olympics Photo of the Day' -- And Here's Back Story, Too

By: E&P Staff Yesterday we introduced a new feature to run for the next couple of weeks: Getty Images picks its 'Photo of the Day' from the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The contests are just about to shift from a focus on swimming and gymnastics to track and field. Of course, dozens of other events, including softball and basketball, continue, if a bit behind the scenes for now.

Here is the second Getty selection -- see below.

The caption -- and "How I Got That Picture" narrative -- follows, from Alexander Hassenstein. Watch for the next pick, coming on Monday.

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I was at the Women's Heptathlon 100m Hurdles in the National Stadium, also known as the "bird's nest."

This is the first day of the athletics and the first time we have had a blue sky - and the first time we can properly see the Olympic flame!

So I wanted to capture all these firsts.

This is an image of Rebecca Wardell of New Zealand who was competing in this event and I was positioned on the ground next to the athletes' feet.

I used a fish eye lens and this is a great position to be in, as you are almost underneath the athletes, it is fantastic!

The Olympic flame is in the background, the symbol of the Games and I was able to play with the light and shadows which gives this image a unique quality.


--Alexander Hassenstein/ Getty Images