This summer might just be the greatest season of sport that we will ever witness. That's the view of Laurence Griffiths, the Director of Sports Photography at Getty Images. We're speaking the day before the FA Cup Final and a week before the Champion''s League Final, both of which were played at Wembley. They are two of football's biggest annual fixtures, and yet Laurence seems perfectly calm and relaxed about it all, as if he's looking forward to stretching out on the sofa to watch the games on telly at home. But don't be fooled. This is the man who's been here plenty of times; the planning and preparation is completed, cameras ready and primed all over the stadium, waiting for kick-off. This is merely the start. "We're just entering the busiest period," he says. "You've got the final stages of all the leagues, the European leagues and then we've got the Champions League Final next week. We've got the European Championship portrait project just abourt to kick off, then the Euros, the Paris Olympics and then the Paralympics, so it's absolutely a summer like no other." And that's without him even mentioning the T20 Cricket World Cup or Wimbledon tennis. Laurence might just be right in his assessment..
So, you really do mean this is a summer like no other?
Last year was supposed to be relatively quiet but I felt it was busier than ever. | was Director of Photography for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and then the Rugby World Cup in France. And then you've got of all the portrait projects, which take a phenomenal amount of organization, and making sure the teams are well equipped with the equipment and the communications with the governing bodies. It's not quite as simple as going to photograph a game of sport any more.
What's your weekend looking like for the Champion's League Final?
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