Elite Sports Properties contacted us early in 2008 with a brief from their client, Lenovo, for the visit of the Olympic Torch in April (Lenovo were a major sponsor of the torch relay). 

We were to setup photo studios in two or three locations around Canberra to photograph people holding the torch. The studio image would then be superimposed on a background selected from locations that the torch was visiting. In the final photo, printed onsite, the person would look like they were carrying the torch in that location.

Anticipating that getting around on the day could be an issue we recommended setting up a complete studio in each location then only transport what was necessary between the locations.

We were in the process of sourcing a printer for onsite printing but quickly realised that a job of this magnitude would require two printers, so we arranged to cross hire a similar printer (Sony DR-150 that produces 15 x 20 cm prints in seconds).

Once the Torch Relay got under way from Athens and the disruptions started in Europe and England we soon found that we were dealing with a very movable feast as the Canberra leg was rerouted and shortened due to security issues.  It was decided that we would do just two studios, at the start and finish, and that they would be set up the day before the event with security (now a given) to be in place overnight.

For the day of the event I arranged for myself and five staff to arrive around 5:00 AM. On arrival we discovered that the parking permits for our vehicles were useless as the designated car park had been filled with the busses carrying the rent-a-crowd that had arrived overnight.  Using some ingenuity (and years of event management experience) I managed to get my vehicle through security (I did have an access pass) and tucked in behind the tent housing our first studio. Eventually all the staff made their way to the location and we were ready to go by 6:00 AM.

By 8:30 AM the various demonstrators had shouted themselves hoarse, caused considerable disruption to those who genuinely wanted to participate, and the Torch was on its way across Lake Burley Griffin. We packed that studio down and loaded the printers, computers and camera gear into my Outback and then squeezed in the staff and headed for the finishing point across the other side of Lake Burley Griffin - due to the road closures there was only one access route and we had no idea when it would be open. 

However luck was on our side and we made it to Stage 88 with enough time to reset the gear and then start shooting and printing again at 10:30 AM.  The area around Stage 88 was packed and very noisy and our little studio proved very popular with a queue of people lining up for their chance to hold the torch and collect their photo.

Interestingly most of the visitors to the studio were from the rent-a-crowd and away from the rabble proved to be very patient and polite. And you might think that patriotically they would want their memento to show them on the Great Wall of China, but no, the majority wanted the image that showed them in front of our Parliament House.

The result - over 700 prints in around 6 hours all delivered in specially printed souvenir folders.  And a delighted client.

PS of the trickiest challenges was to incorporate the flame into the composite photo and sit it on the (unlit) torch - but that is a trade secret.