Special Olympics World Winter Games 2009

The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2009 ~ Photo Slideshow from Teri Niedrich on Vimeo.
Larger HD version at

http://vimeo.com/3431548

Diamonds Along the Way.
I belong to an incredible group of female professional photographers from the Wood River Valley, The Digital Divas. We were asked to volunteer our skills for the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2009, hosted by the USA this year in Boise, Idaho. The competition locations included, Boise and Sun Valley, Idaho. We were happy to volunteer our time and we expected a wonderful adventure. We had no idea the diamonds we were about to discover.

I honestly don't have words to describe the experience. Inspiring just doesn't cut it. To be completely surrounded by athletes, coaches and volunteers who were purely loving and supporting each other. No politics, no ego, just spirit like I really did not know existed. This was a celebration of our differences and it was a site to behold. Everyone gladly gave it their all.

I was shooting with my new Canon 5d MarkII and it was a great environment for learning..shooting indoors without flash, action photos and outdoors in low light. Love that camera!!! More about that later...

The movie above was made using all of the Digital Divas photos. My partner in crime and I made this with the new imovie 09. Having used other softwares Final Cut, Fotomagico and others..this was another opportunity to learn something new.

Take the opportunity to volunteer and support The Special Olympics. It will be the greatest gift you can give to this wonderful world and to yourself.