Wimbledon Weblog 2009

OK...

2009-07-08T16:14:00.011+01:00

I admit that this post is perhaps a little tardy, but I really needed a couple of days to take in all that happened at the Championships. Mull over what I have learnt. Sift the remaining photos that I took, see if any are worth uploading. A few of them are, I think, and they are below.

So what did I learn at this event, my twelfth? Funnily enough some very basic things. For example, do you know how big a tennis court is? If you are a fan of the game you might, and though I am not a fan of the game so much as of photographing the game and its trappings, I can now say I do know. And it is partly responsible for a new found respect for the players. The court on which they court victory or defeat is 78 feet (23.78 m) long and 27 feet (8.23 m) wide. It is 36 feet (10.98 m) for doubles matches. The boxes into which a Federer or Williams must place their serve is not that big, and in the way is a net that stands 3 feet (0.92m) high in the center. They are nearly 40 feet from the net when they serve. To place the ball accurately time after time takes many hours of gruelling training and sacrifice, and that's just the serve. There are all the other shots to consider, not to mention the cardiovascular demands. It tires me to think of it.

I think of the web site we have done over the last umpteen years, and how the process can be likened to the game of tennis, the difference being that we are on the same side as the opponent. We have to serve up a compelling homepage a few hundred million times, a page boxed by the constraints of technology, stakeholder desires, user needs, and an immovable delivery date. Now, whereas a player will probably be looking to ace their serve and win the point, we look at it a little differently, and instead want to get into a rally with the site user, returning their volley of requests with deft and timely site content, and using our deliveries to guide them around the court - the other areas of the site. We work very hard for each point we play in order that the user has an easy game. A lame game analogy? Admittedly only half thought through. I hope the numbers will bear out our efforts, the initial indications are promising indeed.

Enough points were won to take the game perhaps, but there is always room for improvement. I want to try and make the photography delivery better. I'd like to be more regular with blog updates. I'd like to be there again next year very much.

So, to end this brief blog, a few photos from the last two days or so of the event. Seats overlooking Court 18. Some shots of hats that were worn to stand out in the crowd. A band member reflected in his instrument. Focused concentration, an important prerequisite for a line judge. The very vibrant entrance to the Evian suite. A couple of tilt-and-shift efforts of play. No. 1 Court brooding over the few remaining games to be played on its velvety green surface this year. I hope you have enjoyed looking at them. I should like to say thanks to wibmbledon blogger for setting this up again this year, and to the greater IBM team without whom things would be very different. And to you, for reading and commenting. Until next year, I hope...

PS: I guess the last photo needs a little explanation. I can but say that the Stick Family Forkinsons featured here on the balcony overlooking the large garden of their rented accommodation are another story, one which cannot be related here. I have heard rumours that they came to an untimely end at the hand of someone devastated by the prospect of having to prepare his own food again once the tournament is over, but no proof has surfaced. Yet. Their current location is unknown...

It could go either way...

2009-07-05T15:55:00.003+01:00

... the Gentlemen's final is at one set and three games all. We are sitting here preparing photos for the site as the match plays out via three different feeds on TVs around the room. The feeds are staggered, which can make things a little confusing, but, if you missed seeing a shot on one and can turn in your chair fast enough then you can catch it on the screen on the other side of the room.

I have been out photographing things for IBM. There was no chance of me getting on to Centre Court to take shots of the final, so I have to content myself with the ones I am seeing coming in over the wire. Many of the photographers out there today will have wireless on their cameras which means they can fire photos off to their agencies without leaving their position - very cool. It has been in place for a couple of years now, and has speeded up the whole process (for us). Gone are the days of scanning slides (back in 1998), or waiting for a runner to bring in a card of photos to us.

I have a few more photos that I would like to post to this blog, and if I can they will be up sometime tonight, once we have finished for the day, nay, the year. I will then do a wrap up post tomorrow after I have driven home. Until then, go watch and enjoy the tennis!

Just over a day to go...

2009-07-04T12:31:00.025+01:00

Providing the weather holds there is but a day of the Championships left. The pace of work hasn't let up, and although there are fewer matches being played there is still a lot of work to be done. This morning I photographed the hospitality suites, and some other generic IBM things around the grounds. Yet more of that to do tomorrow. Now though I need to sling a few photos up here before the influx of photos for the official site starts.

The photos are from the last few days.

- Ferrer, head down in resignation as he fails to reach the ball.
- Another attempt at a movement photo. Interesting to note he sticks his tongue out.
- A zoom and slow shutter speed combined. Came out quite well!

- A close up of Ferrer serving, eyes on the ball, taken with a 300mm lens. I guess he is about 90 feet from me.
- Sugiyama serves up a feast on court 14.
- Stepanek wipes away the strain on his way to victory on court 18.
- Sugiyama cut off in her prime by me using the wrong lens.

- Pizza time on the hill - just as soon as she remembers where she parked her companion. Looks like her tongue might not wait.
- Umbrellas at dusk as the hill prepares for a Murray match to be shown on the big screen.
- A security guard does what he is paid for.
- A player thronged by tennis fans on the walk between the Broadcast Centre and court 14.

- I spied a novel nasal sun screen thanks to the big lens.
- Jazz hands at the foot of the hill.
- A magician does the 'head separated from body' trick to entertain the fans.

- Two ladies who seem a little bored. Or dismayed. Or both.
- An umbrella shades a player on court 18. I left the player out.
- A tilt-and-shift shot of the courts immediately in front of the Broadcast Centre.

- Schiavone, balletic, assured, returns on her way to victory. This shot is my personal favourite of the whole event, and certainly the best movement photo I have taken.
- She celebrates on her knees.
- Laura Robson strains skyward.
- A ball girl alone in a sea of green.

- An army of cleaning staff remove all evidence of previous occupants on court 18.
- The covers on, one of the grounds staff runs and points. I don't know what at, or why.
- A ball boy lines up two new sets of balls before propelling them along the ground to another ball boy at the end of the court.

- A ball boy returns to his post.
- Court 18 is one of my favourites, and this shot shows a classic serve stance. I love examining the different styles of the players, and how they approach this most important of shots.
- Overlooking court 18 during a match, the blue sky blessing yet another day of rain-free tennis.
- Robson suspended mid-serve. Another shot taken with the 300mm, looking down on her from the Broadcast Centre roof. At that range it is too close to capture the whole player.

- Robson's opponent sets herself up for a shot as the evening light disappears behind the blocks of flats outside the grounds.
- A relaxed line judge.
- Robson, taken from the Broadcast Centre roof with a 300mm lens. Idiot that I am I did not think to change it, which resulted in a very difficult few minutes as I tried time and again to get the ball and her, and her racquet in frame. Eventually I succeeded.

- A young Murray fan watches the match from the foot of the hill. He was serenaded by umpteen photographers and TV crews. Then he and his mother were given tickets for Centre Court by a kind couple so that could see the last set. Excellent!
- A few night shots as the Murray match went on later than expected. This is the back of a security guard. A pretty obvious statement really.
- Lights on top of the Broadcast Centre.
- I know, I know, it is out of focus, but I just liked the feel of it. It is possible that many of the fans were seeing like this by the end of play as the hill stank of beer and Pimms.

- Fans cheer and clap as Murray eventually wins the match. In the two shots above you can see them silhouetted against the big screen at the foot of the hill.

Right, photos need to be prepared for the web site. I will do another couple of posts tomorrow, on the last day of the event.

I want one...

2009-07-02T13:46:00.009+01:00

... but I cannot justify the £450 or so a year that I would need to pay for a contract. I am talking about the iPhone, the interface of which is a thing of beauty, with its gesture control and plethora of applications that you can download for tuppence ha'penny, or even free. Zip. Nada.

I have always been a bit of a luddite when it comes to mobile phones. I have one, it is several years old, and it can handle texts, and phone calls. I don't use it for surfing the web, or sending MMS messages (it has no camera either). I haven't needed more functionality than that, and until the iPhone came along I couldn't imagine I would ever need more than it has. Of course, having seen the iPhone and its cool take on telephony, I now want one. Oh, how I do, I so do.

Every year at Wimbledon we try to implement something new, innovative, and exciting that helps extend the reach of the Championships. This year an application for the iPhone was an obvious choice. I talked to David Balcom, a Business Development Executive for Application Innovation at IBM, and he gave me a quick run down on the key points. The application was built using the standard development kit by a coder and an interface designer in Atlanta. It has a native iPhone look and feel which helps with the ease of use, trading on the familiarity that an iPhone user has with the way the phone presents things.

The cool features from the Wimbledon site available in the application are:
- Live scores available from all courts
- News
- Schedule of Play
- Draws
- On-demand video.

As of yesterday, July 1st 2009, the application had been downloaded over 625,000 times, which is pretty incredible. A little bit of code, and repurposing of content from the site makes for a compelling app it seems. Top work Atlanta! Here are some screenshots of various application features.

Now, question is, can you lend me £450? Anyone?

Apologies...

2009-06-29T12:01:00.011+01:00

It has been a frenetic couple of days. Photos for the site come in thick and fast, despite them being pre-sifted before hitting our screens. I am helped by Rob, one of my best mates - we go way back to college days, and whilst here he keeps me going with wit and editing skills that make me very glad to know him. He is an artist, and designer, and the best computer games player I have ever met.

So, I haven't had as much time as I would like to post to this blog, and feel a little bad about that. Only a little though - it is not my primary 'job' while I am here. Still, I'd like to make a good job of it, and I will try to post a little more frequently over the next few days.

Today I am extremely glad the room is air-conditioned - outside the heat beats down on courts, players, and spectators, sapping everything of strength, colour, and the will to do anything but lie in a cool dark room. There is a lull at the moment - Rob and I have got well on top of the photo list, and so there is a little time spare to add a few images from previous days, and write some words to go with them. The photos below are from various matches, taken as I wander swiftly around the grounds. I have many more that I will post later.

- An umpire on Court 14, the curve of the No.1 Court roof behind her.
- Ferrer whips a serve towards his adversary on Court 18.
- Radek Stepanek plays an overhead shot... hit and hope...
- ... the hoping paid off, the shot was in, the rally continued.

- Tatjana Malek returns to Stosur on Court 18. I was shooting from the opposite end with my 300mm lens.
- Same court, and lens, different player. Bartoli powers a return back to Schiavone. Both players were very hyped up, playing imaginary shots between the rallies, trying to psyche each other out.
- Bartoli put up a valiant but ultimately futile fight, stretching for every shot.

- Bartoli, airborne in this shot, eventually lost the match as the sun fell behind the blocks of flats that overlook Court 18.
- Another player on 18, again shot with the 300mm. She is pulling a most scarily determined face, and I think the grunt that accompanied the serve could probably be heard right into the middle of next week.
- Petrova was wearing quite a fashionable outfit according to the pundits here. I wouldn't have known that of course, given that I am more sartorially challenged than the poet in residence who sits in the next room.
- Stosur leaps to smash another point home.

- Schiavone dabs a dainty forehand over the net. Shot close with the 300mm, fast becoming a favourite of mine. You are forced to crop in camera at this distance, which is tricky with a fast moving player, and so many of the photos I take like that are only good for the rubbish bin. I let this one slip through. Much like her opponent.
- Ivanovic turns to celebrate her win with a triumphantly raised fist.
- Squinting into the sun this player throws an energetic shape as he sends a backhand flying down the court. I can't remember his name. No doubt it will come to me just as soon as I hit 'Publish'.

More, in a little while...

Oh it is hot...

2009-06-28T23:14:00.005+01:00

... so very hot. Earlier today I sat outside with a cup of tea and a book and literally sweated the words from the pages as I tried to read it. I was tired, missing my girlfriend Ali, and her two boys, and trying to relax on the one day off that we get during the event.

I missed the breakfast that we have at the club too. Not because I wasn't there - what I mean is I missed it. Out in the sun though I didn't feel very hungry. I sat, Flacido Domingo, vaguely aware of the pressing need to get on with sorting out my photos from the last couple of days. The heat was beating the resolve out of me, melting my determination, rendering the fat of good intention into a liquid fail over which a heat haze of annoyance threatened to shiver and quiver, mocking my idleness. I moved inside, revelling in the relative cool of the large airy living room, booted up the laptop and started reveiwing the images.

I thought about the twelve tournaments that I have worked at. I have seen a lot of very good photography, and now and again some exceptionally beautiful images. You start to recognize the styles of individual photographers. You know with fair certainty which matches will produce a glut of backhand images, and those that will present you with gems, rare moments where position, light, timing, and a bit of luck all align to produce a near perfect photograph. So, despite having to look at a fair number of images in the course of a day, it is never a mundane task. Indeed, I am looking forward to seeing what comes in over the next few days. And there is keen anticipation of what I might be able to capture myself.

I got the photos done, and they will be posted in a few hours or so. After sleep. And breakfast.

Speed of Serve

2009-06-26T14:26:00.004+01:00

I know I'll start sounding like a brain-washed evangelist for Big Blue at this rate - and I really don't mean to keep banging on about all the cool stuff they're doing at Wimbledon this year, but as I sit here, monitoring all-things tennis on TV and via the SlamTracker (see yesterday's post), I can't help but be impressed by IBM's Speed of Serve; by the time the opponent hits the ball back from receiving a serve, the speed is already displaying on the board.

That really is proper nifty-quick.

If you see the shot...

2009-06-25T15:09:00.020+01:00

... then you have missed it. I am not sure who said that first, but they are right. For example, if you are looking to get a shot of a player with the ball on the racquet strings, and you actually see that moment in your viewfinder then it is too late to press the button to capture it. Ergo, timing is of the essence, as it is with many things. Your camera may well be capable of ten frames a second, but, it can still seem laughably easy to miss capturing the ball completely. Chances are improved if you listen to the player at the opposite end hit the ball and then start your shots before a ball even enters the frame. At least that is how a relative sports photography novice such as me might approach the problem. I believe it may be called the 'spray and pray' approach, jamming your finger down on the shutter release and keeping it there for a second or two to be fairly confident of success. A lazy approach? Could be seen that way too.

The match I shot was Querrey vs Cilic, the last one of the day on Centre. The photos are mostly self-explanatory, and I should point out that Cilic is the one not wearing a cap. Of course, that means Querrey is the one wearing the cap, which would have been a better way of putting it.

I have taken photos on Centre Court once before, last year, but then there was no full house, and hence no press or freelance photographers, and far less pressure it seemed. Maybe pressure is the wrong word, but, I was very aware that the pros around me were taking one or two frames to my five or six, their familiarity with the game affording them efficient use of time and maximising the number of different shots on the memory card, not to mention reducing the amount of chimping to find the ones to send down the wire. I was also keen not to waste the opportunity to get some photos that I would be pleased with, and not to 'let down' the people (Bob, and Rusty, thank you both) who gave me the chance to do it.

For me this was very obvious with the first few frames I took whilst on Centre Court yesterday. However, I quickly shook off my nerves, and got into the flow of the game, and I think I got a few passable shots. Really though, you should be the judge of that.

I couldn't shake the feeling that they lacked a little something, and then I realised that perhaps it is the fact that it isn't a full house, there are quite a few empty seats, and so the players don't stand out as well as when the court is at capacity. I was sat on the same side as the umpire's chair, which effectively meant that I could only shoot the one end, which left the images looking (to me) a little samey.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, and would do it again at the drop of a volunteer steward's hat.

I should explain that the line judge that is holding a ball to his ear does so each time new balls are called for, shaking each one to check it. The last photo taken using a sweet wide angle lens.

I have other photos from yesterday (now actually two days ago), and today (now yesterday) which I will endeavour to post tomorrow (today). I have heard that it may well rain. Today.

SlamTracker

2009-06-25T13:11:00.007+01:00

As Jay mentions in the IBM at Wimbledon video, the data-entry folk from the IBM team really are doing a great job; as I sit at my desk, feverishly working away, I have both the TV coverage running in the background as well as the IBM SlamTracker running on my Thinkpad. And, just as Jay says, the data is updated in real-time and appears on my screen faster than the umpires can announce the point change to the crowd sat around him.
It's nearly as good as being at SW19 in person.
No...wait...hang on... up-to-date scores on my screen, (reasonably-priced) strawberries and cream in the fridge, a bottle of Pimms in the cupboard (for after work, Boss, honest) and a cooling breeze blowing through the window... this is better than being there in person :)

Wow...

2009-06-24T19:16:00.003+01:00

I have just come off Centre Court having spent an hour or so shooting the Cilic vs Querry match. Great experience to sit where the pros sit and try to get some reasonable shots. It is a lot more difficult than you might think. Sure, I can get ten frames a second, but, if you don't time those frames right then it is as easy to miss the action as it is to capture it. I now have oh, perhaps six gigabytes of photos to chimp and weed. It's going to be a long night. I will post any decent ones tomorrow.

Day Threeeee...

2009-06-24T11:29:00.014+01:00

It's the third day here at the Championships, and the sun is beating down on the grass, heating up the fans, making the strawberries sweat as they wait for a cream bath and a dusting of sugar. We rolled in early, and set off for breakfast with a spring in our step, and hope in our hearts.

Hope for eggs that look like eggs, sausages that don't wear their skins like a fake tan lie, toast that gives up a rasping sigh of delight as butter is worked into its crispy skin... oh, how our hopes are regularly dashed on the canteen rocks.

It might seem as if I moan a fair bit (too much?) about the state of the food, but when you are doing as many hours as we are, food is a pretty important part of the equation. So the dismay may well be palpably obvious, but justified. And, once you have selected your breakfast you then have to run the gauntlet of the Random Pricing Structure that seems to be in operation this year. This morning I had some scrambled eggs (whatever it was was indeed scrambled, but I am not convinced it was egg) on two bits of toast, a solitary sad-looking sausage, and a cup of coffee. It cost two pounds more than yesterday. Indeed it cost two pounds more than the chap in front of me was charged - for the same selection. I raised this with the woman on the till who replied with a very sweet but vacuous smile. No words. Just a smile. I waved my hands in front of her eyes, and there was no reaction. I left her smiling, and ate.

Back to the IBM Internet room, and straight into seeking out photos of players on court today so we can prepare some home page shots in advance. That done we skim the rest of the images in the inbox, looking for ambient photos that we can use to accompany the more general news round-ups that are written for the site. Sitting at my desk I can feel my legs warming up, and my top half cooling down as the machines under the enclosed desk space fight with the air conditioning that blows its frosty breath along the top of the room until it hits the windows and falls on us like an unthermal blanket. I am sure it can't be doing us much good.

I got out to take a few photos yesterday, some of which are below.

- An abandoned sticker lies on the trampled grass that runs along the top of Court 18.
- A player, whose name escapes me at the moment, chases down a very speedy ball.
- The same player successfully returns a backhand shot.

- Kuznetsova, lacking her trademark cornrow hairstyle, slams a forehand towards her opponent as the light starts to fade.
- Morigami serves, her shadow stretching out before her on the neatly mown grass.
- The crowd at one end of Court 18 wait whilst the players have a brief break and change ends.

- The large screen at the foot of Henmurray Hillmound reflected in a shiny pair of glasses.
- Security guards (volunteers from the Services) silhouetted in an entrance to Court No.1.
- A glass of something refreshing.
- Nicolas Devilder serves on Court 19.

- Fans on the hill applaud as Murray eventually triumphs.
- I think this chap wanted to get in the papers. Or on TV. He probably succeeded.
- A blue sky heralds another successful day in SW19.

First day done...

2009-06-23T09:24:00.007+01:00

The first day is done. It was hectic. Not a lot of time to think about anything but prepping photos sent in by any one of the large army of photographers that stalk the grounds. Well over two thousand images made it through to the server.

This morning I woke up and wanted to go straight back to sleep again - OK, perhaps not much different to any other morning, but really, sleep had a firm grip and didn't want to let go. I stumbled through ablutions, scuffed my feet like a petulant child all the way to the Club, and only perked up when breakfast was mentioned. We trooped off to the Broadcast Centre canteen, site of many raised voice objections to the ridiculous prices that they charge for what is mostly pretty ordinary fare. I decided to have scrambled eggs on toast, because the fried eggs looked jelly-like on top, with a leathery undergarment, unappetising to say the least. I had to ask for new toast, as the two pieces I was given had merely been waved at a toaster and were still supple bits of bread masquerading as their crunchier cousins. I also got a sausage to go with it, only to discover that 'extra' breakfast bits attract a premium of £1 per item. The sausage was nice, but not worth a pound. Rob, who helps me with the photos here, was charged a pound for a (James) hash brown. OK, at a festival, a pound for a hash brownie would be a fair deal, but not so for a tiny fried bit of potato here. Daylight robbery, pure and simple.

Nevertheless, the lacklustre eggs revived my already flagging energy levels, and coupled with a strong coffee left me ready to face the day. I am hoping to get on to Centre or No.1 this afternoon and do some 'serious' photography. Meanwhile here are a few shots from yesterday when I managed to get out and up on the Broadcast Centre roof that affords an excellent view of Court 18. I might nip up there again in a minute if I can.

- Rainer Schuettler smacks a ball in the general direction of Xavier Malisse. Although this shot is a 'simple' one to take, I enjoy freezing the moment and seeing the different approach to serves that each player has.
- He chases down a shot that was eventually called out.
- I love trying this type of shot, setting the shutter speed to something suitably slow, and then moving with the player. I haven't got the technique down pat yet, but I will continue to try it out.
- Malisse, ball on racquet, returns to the eventual victor in this match, Schuettler.
- Another movement shot. Again, perhaps not quite as I would want it to be, but, I love the painterly feel and sense of dynamism you can lend to what would otherwise be just a shot of a player's back.

Photos are coming in already. Having done this for a while it is easy to spot the different styles of some of the better photographers. Through the now roller-blinded windows I can see the sun streaming down. It looks hot out there, and for once I am happy to be sat in the air conditioned coolness of our room.

More, later.

AELTC CEO --> IBM

2009-06-22T11:02:00.012+01:00

I logged into my work email this morning and found a memo from Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), saying how much he valued the relationship with IBM and thanking all those involved.
Now, I'm no technical expert on how Speed of Serve works or a data-entry wizard (brimming with "tennisability" [sic] ), so those words of thanks from Mr. Ritchie are most definitely aimed at those doing the real work, but seeing the CEO of AELTC take time to thank us all was a Great Thing ... it's always nice to be appreciated.

Today is the day...

2009-06-22T00:35:00.004+01:00

... but first, a brief explanation of why the photos are larger in file size than you, and I, might want. It is down to me noticing that the JPEGS I was uploading were being re-compressed, and this was leaving them a little messy compared their pre-upload state. After a couple of tests I found that the integrity of a PNG was maintained after upload, no squishing of the file, and so the images now look as they do before being posted. Good.

Oh, and today is the day the tournament starts. We are ready.

I must sleep.

Trophy Life

2009-06-21T19:15:00.020+01:00

When all is said and done, these two items are what the singles combatants are here for.

The two trophies are markedly different to eachother, but carry the same import for the person who eventually hoists one of them aloft to the tumultuous applause of the Centre Court faithful. They mark triumph, victory for the holder who has trodden an arduous path littered with the pride and reputations of their vanquished opponents. They are treasure, gold and silver, and their polished (though static) performance mirrors that of the winner, a fitting reward for effort and achievement.

The winner of the Gentlemen's Singles is presented with a cup of gilt and silver, topped with an ornately sculpted pineapple. The handles rise in practical yet mellifluous curves from small wing-helmeted heads at their base, joining the body of the cup with a circular flourish just below the lid. The trophy is accented with convex mouldings (ovolo), and stands a millimetre shy of 47cm tall. In 1949 F.R. Schroeder was the first winner of this trophy to be presented with a smaller replica (just over 21.5cm tall) to take away, a tradition that continues to this day.

The Ladies' Champion receives a partly guilded sterling silver salver, which sometimes goes by the name of the 'Rosewater Dish', a smidgin over 47.5cm in diameter. It is ornate, the ovolo mouldings, renaissance strapwork and foliate motifs framing the mythological themes that decorate the central area. The very centre is adorned with Temperance (Sophrosyne?), surrounded by four classical gods, and the outer rim is the domain of Minerva who oversees the seven Liberal Arts. The salver is far more busy and detailed than the Gentlemen's trophy, but no less a prize for that. The Ladies' champion gets a small replica too, 20.3cm in diameter, which should be big enough to stack a few Ferrero Rochers on.

I was told about the media shoot a couple of days before hand, and yesterday morning I and a colleague Andy Burns went along. It was a bit of a free-for-all, but thankfully organized so that each media team got a few minutes in front of the trophies that sat on a small table on the edge of the grass on Centre Court. When it was our turn I seized the moment and leant in close enough for the heat of my breath to raise a sweat on the cold metal, and shot a few close-ups. Having only ever seen them from afar, or behind the glass that protects them whilst they are on display in the club museum, it was cool to be within touching distance of these venerable pieces of tennis history and appreciate the detail in each. You can learn more about the trophies here.

Below are a few of the photos I took.

- The Gentlemen's Singles trophy, and the Ladies' Singles Salver.
- The centre of the salver, showing the goddess of Temperance.
- A close up of the back of the salver, where winners' names are engraved (having run out of room on the front).

- The stand for the silver and gilt salver.
- Virginia Wade's name marks her triumph in 1977.
- The legend that appears on the Gentlemen's Singles trophy.

- One of the two ladies looking after the trophies.
- The salver.
- The ornate pineapple that sits atop the Gentlemen's Singles trophy.
- The Gentlemen's Singles trophy sits patiently whilst the media crews scrum down. The colours seemed to change as the light, and angle of view, changed.

- The collected media crews during the trophy shoot.
- Security guards, freshly pressed and trained, walk the path between the Broadcast Centre.
- There are a lot of them employed here during the event.

- A close up of a line marking machine mechanism.
- Sharapova practises on Court 14. She didn't seem overly happy with her performance.
- A stack of her racquets lie at the side of the court, waiting for their turn to be used in anger.

Anywhere but here...

2009-06-21T15:41:00.020+01:00

The band Raging Slab are a blast from my past, and right now I am listening to their track 'Anywhere But Here'. It prompts me to think of two little birds with whom I have recently become acquainted. Over the last week two fledgling blackbirds have been 'trapped' in the open air corridor between offices in the basement of the Broadcast Centre here at the club. I can only assume that they had attempted their first flight from the nest and ended up down here, not strong enough on the wing yet to be able to fly back out again. No doubt, they'd rather be anywhere but here...

Birds rely one or both parents for their food during the early part of their lives. The parents have toiled tirelessly to bring them worms, berries and insects, bulking out their ruffled feathered bodies, preparing them for the great escape. One of the two was more vocal than its sibling, and so got more food, and by Thursday it had managed to fly to the top of an open door, then on and up, up, up, its wings a beating blur, straining, touch and go as to whether it would make it to the railings on the wall above the corridor. I was delighted to watch it reach its goal, and then immediately saddened as I realized that it meant the other was now on its own, separated, without the warm familiarity of its brother/sister to keep it company. The parents didn't abandon it though, and made many swooping feed runs stopping only to deliver the titbit before zooming up and out to find more sustenance for their little one.

When I came in yesterday morning it had gone, thankfully, and the whole family could go scavenging on the short grass of the courts (I spied all four on Court 14 just before Sharapova came on to practise).

Preparation of the grounds and all that lies within carried on a pace, and although not an actual life or death thing, it could be seen as such in respect of the tournament - without all the hard work of hundreds of people, the club would be devoid of the finery and trappings that dress it for the two weeks ahead. The tournament starts tomorrow, and will wait for no one, fledgling or otherwise. Here are a few shots I have taken whilst taking a break from the computer screen...

- Centre Court.
- Colour tests being performed on the big screen on Centre Court.
- One of the outside broadcast trucks parked up behind the Broadcast Centre, as seen through a glass wall.

- Warning signs on a door under the new Court 2 - you need to be a little brave to enter it seems. I wonder why the first one is in bold type. Is it because that is how most people hurt themselves, and consequently the powers that be felt it a good idea to slightly push the point?
- Chairs stacked together waiting to be assigned to their tables.
- A dirty window under the old Court 2.

- I think they are testing the density of the grass, i.e., how many blades per centimetre. I must check that.
- A progamme seller's booth is washed down ready for Monday.
- Ah, a tennis player! Actually, very possibly the best and most famous one currently. Federer knocks a ball about on Court 14.

IBM @ Wimbledon : Better than a pint?

2009-06-19T21:21:00.020+01:00

Steady on, I hear you protest - that's some mighty claim.

Relax - I'm talking about the iBeer that is available for the iPod touch and iPhone. One of those "hot trix" applications that are just so "amazing"! It's an application that allows you to pour - and then tip - a glass of beer on your iPhone screen. Imagine it! Can you? I bet you cant!! It's just sooo brilliant! And it's even funnier if you hold the gadget to your lips! I mean, it actually looks like you're drinking beer out of your iPod! Wow! That's just so, like, hilarious! [ And for those of you who want something more natural and healthy - you can even drink a glass of milk with the added 'bonus' that you can then shake your iPod, which then curdles the milk and turns it into cheese! And it looks so realistic! Yummy. ]

Hmm...

However...sometimes things genuinely are as cool as...well, cold beer (or pre-cheese milk). When I first heard about the IBM Seer I though "No way!"...then, after reading more, broke into a fair impression of Wayne of Wayne's World, and instantly thought "Yes way!" If you haven't seen it yet, check it out at : http://www.wimbledon.org/ibm/

Just as Metal Gear Solid 2 made me go and buy a Playstation 2, stuff as great as this application makes me want to get my hands on an iPhone.

Speaking of cool stuff...when I wandered around SW19 today, I watched a man throw some groovey shapes against a disco wall. No. Really, I did. He even had a DJ mixin' it up in a pulpit above him. I thought "Is he allowed to be so loved-up and dancing his socks off like that?" On closer inspection, however, it appeared he was checking his newly-created LED-information board. Checking it for smoothness and ensuring there were no bumps and ridges, just so the final image will be as absolutely perfect as is possible. Nice attention to detail. Worthy of the IBM logo on it in all its fineness.

Surely not. A year already?

2009-06-17T12:02:00.061+01:00

It has been almost three hundred and sixty five days since I was last sat at this desk, blogging on what I experienced whilst working here at the greatest tennis event in the world. Eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours, over half a million minutes, very nearly thirty two million seconds. Indeed, the smaller the time slice, the longer it sounds, to me at least.

Long enough for us to travel once around the sun on starship Earth... for Alexander the Great to lay siege to and conquer Tyre... for you to get about a quarter of the way to Proxima Centauri if your name is Mr Light... for thirty or so Japanese hornets to lay waste to the inhabitants of nearly three thousand bee hives.

I wanted to post yesterday, but work conspired to thwart my efforts. So, eighty six thousand four hundred seconds (that's about eight hives) later than intended, here is my first post for this year. To be honest I was struggling to think of a suitable opener. It is ‘build week’ here at the club, and all around the grounds hundreds of people are applying great dollops of elbow grease to smooth the transition between a club in hibernation (or so it might seem to the causal observer), and a venue for the Championships Wimbledon.

I have been out taking a few shots of the preparatory frenzy, some of which I will post. Meanwhile, here are a few that I took at the official roof opening event a few Sundays ago. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to join the pros in the pit, courtside, for the ladies exhibition match between Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf. I could have enjoyed the whole day in the pit, but alas, my time was taken up being filmed for a small ad campaign for the IBM Seer Android app for suitably enabled mobile phones. That was good fun, but I have to admit that all the while I was champing at the bit to get on to Centre Court and take some photos. Without further ado, a small selection from the day.

From the top:
- Centre Court on the morning of the official roof opening.
- Steffi nails a backhand.
- Clijsters plays a similar shot.
- A forehand from Steffi shows she still has that world-class athleticism, accuracy, and composure.
- Kim chases down a backhand that threatens to beat her to the back of the court.
- Congratulations.
- Tim & Kim receive their plates.
- Andre and Steffi receive their rewards as rapturous applause reverberates around the court.
- A volunteer serviceman stands guard at the edge of the hallowed Centre Court turf.

It was quite an experience sitting in the pit, and I hope to get the chance to do so during the tournament itself. It was strange to look up and see the roof (a fabric one!). I must say that it was warm down there, and the light was very variable, sunny one minute, then overcast, then some rain. Tricky to get the exposures balanced, especially as I seem to have forgotten anything I might have learnt in previous years here. I must get some more practice in before the Championships start on Monday next. Right, work to be done.

More, later.

Behind the scenes at SW19...again

2009-06-15T16:24:00.013+01:00

Well, you asked us to repeat this behind the scenes blog this year, so here it is...

Those of you who followed this blog during previous years will know what to expect... (and hello again - thanks for coming back).

Those of you who are new this year - welcome to what we hope will be an interesting and not-always-obvious insight into what happens behind the scenes at the Wimbledon Championships.

Our main weblog contributor will be Jay Dykes, Lead Designer on the IBM team at Wimbledon, 'creative spark' and acclaimed photographer. Jay will be using his photographic skills and sharing the highlights of what keeps the multi-national IBM team busy, and providing us with some backroom gossip.

Please note: All the views expressed throughout this blog are those of the contributors and in no way represent either IBM or AELTC