Mind Over Matter

Gurinder Osan speaks about his rigorous training and meticulous planning that went into capturing some of the most popular images at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.

- Gurinder Osan

Following the Afro-Asian Games in 2003, David Guttenfelder, my senior and friend at The Associated Press (AP) commented, “Not Olympic material yet.” As a mentor, his words mattered, and thus began a dogged pursuit towards becoming ‘Olympic material’. Eventually, when the prospect of covering the games in Tokyo presented itself, after a three-decade-long career as a photojournalist, I was determined to go.

This assignment was a watershed moment in my career. As a team leader at the Hindustan Times for five years, and now, at Press Trust of India (PTI) for four years, I have had fewer chances to pick up my camera, as I have always prioritised my team members for shoots. Although I am a photographer at heart, my role inadvertently tilted me towards the managerial aspects of the operation.