Olympus Visionary Jay Dickman

Jay Dickman has worked in the photojournalism field for over 30 years, covering events as diverse as the war in El Salvador, the Olympics, six Super Bowls and the 40th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. His numerous prizes include the 1983 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Feature Photography for his work in El Salvador, and the World Press “Golden Eye.” Over the last decade, he has worked with National Geographic Magazine on more than 25 assignments.

Visionary Perspective

From the Olympics to the Super Bowl, whether beneath the surface of the Amazon or the Arctic ice in a nuclear sub, Dickman’s range is extreme and highly regarded.

His versatility can inspire other photographers (professional and novice) to experiment with a variety of subject matter. His experience shooting in such diverse settings can be helpful to photographers who want to broaden their horizons and experiment with new locations and topics.

In His Own Words

“When I took this shot, I was standing in the middle of the running pen. I used to shoot NFL football, so I’m used to things moving fast. Even so, it was amazing being close to an animal like that. They’re actually quite reticent, timid creatures. They’re absolutely magnificent to be around.

“I wanted to show the power of a cheetah running so I shot at a slow exposure, focusing on the cheetah’s hips because I felt that was where the power was coming from. I shot this with an Olympus E-1 at 1/30th of a second at f/11. I was using the Zuiko 90-250mm lens at about 150mm, with a low ISO because it was 11 a.m. I love the 90-250mm lens because it’s so versatile, and it’s hard to imagine a better piece of glass. Although I shoot for National Geographic, I’m not a wildlife photographer, so when I’m on a job like this, it’s good to know I have the equipment I need to accomplish my objectives.”

Olympus Visionaries

The Olympus Visionary program celebrates the work of some of the most talented still photographers of the day. Olympus works with 25 artists that shoot a range of subject matter, including travel and documentary, fashion, food, people and places, nature and landscapes, street, commercial and fine art.