2006 Mike Ridewood

MIKE RIDEWOOD

Mike Ridewood began his news career in Ottawa in 1975 as a copy runner for the Canadian Press. In five years at CP he advanced to staff photographer under a contract between CP and the Ottawa Journal. Mike has been freelancing in Calgary since 1981 working with wire services, newspapers, magazines, photo agencies, sport federations and corporate clients.

Mike Ridewood

Mike Ridewood

One of Mike’s strengths is working with people to help them feel comfortable in front of the lens. His photographs are graphically strong and he says the challenge of any assignment is to not only shoot the required picture, but to find the surprising and unusual image – whether he is traveling Europe with Canada’s freestyle ski team, lighting an executive office for a CEO portrait, or shooting events from the world-famous Calgary Stampede to press conferences.

Mike’s Olympic experience began in 1988 when he was one of three photographers assigned to Olympic games coverage by the Calgary organizing committee. He then photographed the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 1994 for the Commonwealth Games Society, and continued shooting Olympic Games for the COC, from Atlanta in 1996 through the recent 2006 winter games in Torino.

“At the men’s Olympic curling final in Pinerolo, Italy it was a thrill to see a Canadian team take the gold after photographing men’s silver in Nagano and Salt Lake City,” Mike recalls. “While it was clear that skip Brad Gushue was excited, he was very reserved, unlike second Russ Howard – whose enthusiasm makes the Award-winning picture work. Photographing curling is usually a matter of patience and watching for the subtle picture — but not on this day.”