The 2012 Games are set to be the most photographed Olympics of all time, thanks largely to the proliferation of camera phones among the millions of fans attending.
But what high-end photography equipment are you allowed to take into Olympic venues? What are the secrets to taking great shots? And what can/can't you do with your pics? Read on and all will be revealed…
Which camera?
A full buyer's guide is outside the scope of this feature, but the good news is that every type of camera is suitable for the Olympics in its own way.
Camera phones are obviously great if you want to take snaps and show off to friends via messaging or social media (network coverage has been great in venues so far, so you can upload 'live' to Facebook or Twitter, although officials are asking fans to be considerate about data usage).
Compacts are great for automatic, hassle-free shots, leaving you free to enjoy the action. Bridge cameras (or 'superzooms') can get you close-up shots unobtrusively, even from high in the stands.
Finally, DSLRs and CSCs (compact system cameras) will give you full creative control, will deliver better image quality and, crucially for indoor events, offer much better low-light performance.
Equipment restrictions
So what can/can't you take into an Olympic venue? LOCOG's rules are actual very, very lenient compared with, say, Premier League football or gigs at large venues, where "professional cameras" (always ambiguous) and/or detachable lenses are often banned.
Inside most (repeat: most) Olympic venues, the only restriction is the physical size of the hardware – it needs to fit in a bag no bigger than 30x20x20cm, which can fit under your seat.
So, in theory, you could take in a lens which is 30cm in length, if packed separately from a DSLR camera body. But be sensible: you run the risk of annoying other spectators by using a 5lb monster zoom lens. And tripods of any length are banned.
The main exception to the 30cm rule? Football stadiums, where rules differ across the country. Wembley, for example, doesn't allow "professional-style cameras" or "cameras with interchangeable lenses". If you're going to footie, check with your local venue, or play safe by sticking to mobile or compact.
Sharing your images
So you've taken some stunning shots of the Games. Now what? Well, it's worth reading the T&Cs which come with Olympic tickets.
Specifically: "19.6.3 Images, video and sound recordings of the Games taken by a Ticket Holder cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic purposes and a Ticket Holder may not license, broadcast or publish video and/or sound recordings, including on social networking websites and the internet more generally, and may not exploit images, video and/or sound recordings for commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise, or make them available to third parties for commercial purposes."
In reality, LOCOG won't send around the legal SWAT team if you run-off prints for yourself and friends and family. And, although it's slightly contentious, you'll be okay sharing digital images for others to see on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr etc.
But, to stay on the safe side, don't make your images available for others to download (eg under Creative Commons), if displaying on a photo site like Flickr. And, whatever you do, don't try to use any of your images for commercial gain. That's asking for trouble.
10 tips for taking great shots
1) It's tempting to spend time (often frustratingly) trying to take professional-style action shots, especially if you have a long zoom. But leave that to the experts. There are more than 1500 accredited photographers at the Games, with better positions and equipment than us. Their work will be viewable online for many years.
2) Instead, concentrate on taking images which represent your experience – your wide view from the stands, the people you're with and the colourful fans around you. You can actually get great crowd and 'atmosphere' shots which the pros can't get!
3) Don't use flash. It's outlawed in the T&Cs of the tickets. And, anyway, internal flashes only work over a few feet – completely useless for long shots of arenas and stadiums.
4) Images looking a bit samey? Try moving location. As we're sure you've read, there have been a lot of empty seats at opening events. You should be free to move around a little, although stewards will stop you moving between different blocks/areas.
5) Open events, such as road cycling time trials, the marathon and triathlon, offer a great opportunity for photography, with zero restrictions on equipment in public areas. Do your research and arrive early for the best positions.
6) Be courteous to others. No-one wants to hear a constant clicking in their ears or have a long lens waved in their face.
7) Be respectful when shooting images of children in crowds. Many parents won't mind. Some will.
8) Shooting fast action sports from the stands at (relatively dimly lit) indoor arenas can be a challenge. Generally you'll want a shutter speed of 1/250sec or quicker. If you have full manual control, you can experiment changing the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings. It pays to know your camera well.
9) Many outdoor Olympic venues have been purposely built in the shadows of famous landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, London Eye and Canary Wharf. Give yours shots a real sense of location by including them in the background when you can.
10) Don't let photography spoil your Olympic experience. It's very easy to get engrossed in taking great shots and to forget about the competition. But what are you really there for?
Share your London 2012 experiences! Follow @Heineken_UK and use #celebratelondon2012 in your tweets to be a part of the Fan Hub!
We are celebrating the Games by giving away a case of Heineken every day, take part via Flickr.
