Tony Benshoof, a two-time U.S. Olympic luge team athlete, is a serious photographer when he's not training on the sled. In addition to the photo shown here, you can see more of Benshoof's amazing photos at his official Web site.
Benshoof qualified for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, where he placed fourth in men's singles. Benshoof has won three medals in the four-person mixed team event at the FIL World Luge Championships -- 2001, bronze, and 2004 and 2005, silvers. Benshoof should make the U.S. Olympic luge team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, as well.
Through this Q&A article, the 34-year-old Benshoof, who was born in St. Paul, Minn., recently agreed to give About.com readers some advice on photography, on camera equipment ... and on luge.
- Q: How did you get interested in photography? What keeps you interested?
TB: I became interested in photography when I saw some of Nancy Bataglia’s shots, who is a local sports photographer here in Lake Placid, N.Y. Nancy has been shooting the U.S. luge team for many years now, and she has developed a great eye for shooting luge.
- Q: What kinds of subjects do you enjoy shooting the most? Do you shoot sports photos, or do you use photography as a way to relax and get away from sports?
TB: I enjoy both sports and non-sports subjects such as landscape, still life, etc. In sports, luge has been my primary focus, and there has been quite a learning curve for capturing the 90 mph sleds. I find that shooting luge is both therapeutic and educational, because I am able to analyze top athlete’s position on the sled, which gives me an idea of how they are able to go fast.
- Q: Talk about some of the camera equipment you're currently using. How did you select it? How often do you add new equipment to your arsenal?
TB: Since I got involved in photography in approximately 2004, I've been trying to upgrade each year. I started out with a Canon 20D body, moved up to a 40D, and now I have the 5D Mark II, which is the first full-frame sensor DSLR I have owned.
On the lens side, I currently have a 17-40L f4.0, a 200mm f4.0 prime, and a 24-105L f4.0. I'm always trying to upgrade my lenses and body, and my next purchase will likely be a 100-300 lens.
- Q: Did you shoot photos during your trips to the 2006 Olympics? If so, what are some of your favorites?
TB: I did shoot a lot in 2006. I have a handful of favorites, but the truth is that the Olympics, as an athlete, is often times difficult because of the inability to get close to the action or subject without a media pass. That, in conjunction with the burden of lugging and babysitting the equipment the entire day, made me leave the whole setup home more than once!
- Q: Besides competing, what are some of your favorite memories from the past Olympics you participated in?
TB: The opening ceremonies are always a memorable time for any athlete. 2002 was wonderful, and it is probably my fondest memory of my Olympic experience from that year. In 2006, the race itself was my favorite part of the experience. But, as a whole, it is difficult to pinpoint the most memorable things because the entire experience is quite special.
- Q: What do you find most challenging about photography?
TB: I think the most challenging aspect of photography is developing an eye for the perfect shot. Getting into the right place and anticipating the shot, especially in sports, are skills that take years to master. This is also what makes me like photography so much, because there is always something to work on, more skills to acquire.
- Q: What advice would you give people who are interested in becoming better photographers? How big of a role would you say equipment plays in improving someone's photography skills?
TB: Equipment is definitely a factor. Since my upgrade to the 5D Mark II, I have seen a tremendous improvement in the quality of my shots. With that said, it isn't everything. There is a lot of knowledge necessary to be good in this field, and I find the best way to improve is to browse photo critique sites such as photoSIG. I often submit shots I think are my best work, only to be shot down by people who bring up aspects and technical points I didn't consider.
- Q: What made you interested in luge? What is something about luge that would really surprise those who maybe only watch it during the Olympics?
TB: The most surprising thing about luge is that we are actually steering all the time. Most people think we are adrenaline junkies who are more crazy than sane. It couldn't be farther from the truth! Luge is about calculation and being methodical. There is a lot of sled work and testing we are always doing to find the right runners for the conditions, which takes patience and hard work. Don't get me wrong, my heart is pounding out of my chest many times before a run, but being calm is a virtue in luge.
What drew me to the sport is the speed. I've never liked heights, but going 90-plus mph down an iced chute is a feeling I wouldn't trade the world for.
- Q: How tough is it to participate in a sport that people in your home country don't follow closely and where you have to travel a lot to make a living? Or is the travel an exciting part of the job, especially for someone who doubles as a photographer?
TB: Travel is part of any luge athlete’s life, and I do think that photography is a huge help when I'm traveling abroad. I've spent at least three months abroad for the past 17 years -- that's a lot of travel. Every once in a while, though, I find myself in a part of the world that most Americans don't get to see, and that is when I am thankful for my job ... and my camera!
As far as constantly telling people about the sport ... I admit there are times I feel like a broken record player, but 99% of the time I enjoy educating people on this exciting sport. In Europe, luge is as popular as almost any sport outside of skiing and soccer, and I hope one day the USA will follow.
- Q: I'm sure I already know the answer to this, but I have to ask: Have you ever tried shooting photographs while sliding?
TB: Not with the 5D Mark II. (laughing) I'm not that brave.
