Photos And Reflections From The Championships Wimbledon.

“Roger Federer falls to the ground on Centre Court after winning match point against Andy Murray and claiming his seventh Wimbledon championship title Sunday, July 8, 2012.”
“Roger Federer poses on Centre Court with the championship trophy after winning his seventh Wimbledon title Sunday, July 8, 2012.”
“Roger Federer waves to fans on Centre Court after winning his seventh Wimbledon championship Sunday, July 8, 2012.”
“Serena Williams celebrates on Centre Court after winning match point against Agnieszka Radwanska and claiming her fifth Wimbledon title Saturday, July 7, 2012.”
“Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska play the Ladies’ singles final on Centre Court at the All England Club Saturday, July 7, 2012.”
“Venus and Serena Williams hug each other on Centre Court after winning the Ladies’ doubles championship Saturday, July 7, 2012.”
“Doubles play resumes on day eleven of The Championships Wimbledon Friday, July 6, 2012.”
“Roger Federer is escorted by security to No. 9 Court for a practice session before his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic Thursday, July 5, 2012.”
“Roger Federer’s shoe is shown on No. 9 Court before his practice session Thursday, July 5, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Roger Federer practices on No. 9 Court before his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic Thursday, July 5, 2012.”
“Roger Federer walks off the set of ‘Live At Wimbledon’ after an interview Friday, July 6, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Roger Federer signs autographs for fans after a practice session Monday, June 25, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Andy Murray jokes with his coach, Ivan Lendl, during his practice session at the All England Club Thursday, July 5, 2012.”
“Fans cheer on a packed Henman Hill at the All England Club as they watch the semi-final match between Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Friday, July 6, 2012.”
“Fans cheer on a packed Henman Hill at the All England Club as they watch the semi-final match between Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Friday, July 6, 2012.”
“Fans cheer on a packed Henman Hill at the All England Club as they watch the semi-final match between Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Friday, July 6, 2012.”
“Rafael Nadal hits a volley during his practice session Monday, June 25, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“A fan from Spain shows her support for Rafael Nadal as he practices Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Rafael Nadal chats with pro golfer Sergio Garcia before his practice session Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Rafael Nadal signs autographs for fans Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Novak Djokovic jokes around before his practice session Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“Fans take in a match on No. 18 Court Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Centre Court seats are shown during a rain delay Monday, July 2, 2012.”
“Fans take in a match on No. 18 Court Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Qualifier Camila Giorgi of Italy shakes hands with the chair umpire after winning her match Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“Camila Giorgi serves to Agnieszka Radwanska on No. 2 Court Saturday, July 2, 2012.”
“Maria Kirilenko prepares to return a serve during her match Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“Maria Sharapova takes a drink during her practice session Monday, June 25, 2012 at the All England Club.”
“Serena Williams walks through the Aorangi Practice Park at the All England Club Monday, June 25, 2012.”
“Former World No. 1 tennis player Mats Wilander smiles while on set of ‘Live At Wimbledon’ Wednesday, July 4, 2012.”
“ESPN NCAA Basketball commentator Dick Vitale smiles while attending The Championships Wimbledon Wednesday, July 4, 2012.”
“Legendary professional golfer Jack Nicklaus waves while attending The Championships Wimbledon Thursday, June 28, 2012.”
“Fans sit on Henman Hill at the All England Club Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“Fans watch a match on No. 18 Court at the All England Club Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“A Wimbledon umbrella is shown at the All England Club Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“A chair umpire measures the net on No. 2 Court at the All England Club Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“The Championships Wimbledon logo is shown on a line judge’s jacket Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“Dustin Brown serves to David Ferrer on No. 18 Court at the All England Club Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“Ryan Harrison hits a slice backhand during The Championships Wimbledon Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“Li Na serves during The Championships Wimbledon Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”
“A ball boy stands on court at the All England Club at the conclusion of a match Tuesday, June 26, 2012.”
“A steward stands on guard as the sun sets at the All England Club Monday, June 25, 2012.”
“The sun sets over the All England Club on Day Three of The Championships Wimbledon Wednesday, June 27, 2012.”

All images above Billie Weiss/AELTC ©2012.

It’s great to be back on the blog after a few weeks away. I’m currently in South London, where I just finished working as Photographer and Social Media editor for www.wimbledon.com at this year’s Championships Wimbledon. I was extremely lucky to have this opportunity, which came as a follow up after working as a photo editor for www.usopen.org at last year’s US Open in New York City. 

I worked all thirteen days of this incredible tournament, shooting photographs of players on the practice courts, Wimbledon matches, visiting celebrities, fans, events, and features around the grounds. I wrote captions for thousands of photographs from wimbledon.com’s team of amazingly talented photographers, as well as built and published 27 galleries for the website. Additionally, I helped manage Wimbledon’s Facebook and Twitter accounts by publishing photos and galleries, responding to online comments and questions, and monitoring audience engagement and activity. In my free time (what free time?) I watched a lot of really good tennis.

Wimbledon is the most important tennis tournament in the world, so it was thrilling to be able to reach out to an audience of approximately one million Facebook fans and 300,000 Twitter followers. Working with such a huge audience, I learned how to effectively increase an online fan base, witnessed first hand how people react and interact on social media, and got a better feel for which types of content people want to see most. 

It was definitely a grind over the last two weeks. It was long hours, long bus rides to and from the grounds, and long walks to the bus (complete with many terrifying encounters with some mangy looking foxes). It was being told every morning that my credential wasn’t good enough to get me into the press centre (even though it was). It was hours of sitting in the “bunker” and the same chicken, potatoes, and butternut squash dinner in the same cafeteria every night. 

But it was also having access to shoot pictures of the best tennis players in the world. It was watching your photos get 5,000 “likes” on Facebook in one hour. It was exploring the pubs in Wimbledon Village. It was being on Centre Court to witness Roger Federer win his 17th grand slam, Serena Williams win her fifth Wimbledon singles title and her 13th doubles title alongside her sister Venus. 

But most importantly, it was the people I met and worked with. It was an honor to work alongside a crew of talented and hardworking journalists, and I’m so happy to have made the connections I did. 

Above is just a small sampling of the photo work I shot over the past two weeks. Click each photo to enlarge if you’d like. As always, thank you for reading!

Now, I’m off to Italy for some rest in the Mediterranean sun.

July 9, 2012