Photographer Cameron Spencer explains how he captured Usain Bolt in THAT 100m final photo

CAMERON Spencer was one of 600 photographers who watched Usain Bolt win gold in the 100m. He explains how he sent the internet into meltdown.

Cameron Spencer’s image that has gone viral

THERE were 600 photographers shooting photos of Usain Bolt yesterday, but only one captured the image that stopped the world.

Sydney photographer Cameron Spencer was the man who took a risk take a slow pan on the legend’s final pounce to the finish line in the semi finals, capturing the smiling assassin image of Bolt that will define the Olympics.

With just 20 or so metres to go in the semis, Bolt looked to his competitors, flashing an “I’ve got this” grin that captured everything the world loves about him.

Cameron Spencer’s image that has gone viral around the world

And Spencer, from Manly in Sydney, was the man to capture it a single frame - one that has now gone viral around the world.

Spencer, who works for Getty Images, says he took a risk with a slow shutter speed in that race, panning his lens around the track with Bolt on that final stretch.

“It’s hit and miss - you have to be steady, hold your breath and hope it works,” Spencer said.

Bolt - clearly in the lead - looked around and flashed a grin at his competitors. But it looks like he is grinning just for Spencer, who was on the infield of the Olympic Athletics Stadium, shooting long jump in between races.

Usain Bolts to golden victory at Rio

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Getty had 11 photographers with 38 cameras recording the race, which gave Spencer a bit of freedom to take the risk on the slow shutter speed.

“It’s non stop and an adrenaline rush. It wasn’t until after the men’s 100 finals that I realised I really had something,” he said.

Spencer has photographed five Olympics, but the image of Bolt will go down as one of his all time best photos.

He said part of the success of his photo - which has now gone global - is the international love of Bolt.

“Everyone loves Bolt - he’s a superstar. It’s his character - the fact that he’s about to run the race of a lifetime and is there posing for the camera - that makes him unique, and that’s what’s captured in this photo.”

Stewart said photographers work long hours and he often felt the pressure of capturing such split-second moments.

“But sometimes, in a moment like this it all comes together and you know you’ve got something special.

“If a photographer walks away with one photo a year they are truly happy with it’s a good year.

“This just happened to be my moment. It all came together for me.”

Originally published as Photographer Cameron Spencer explains how he captured Usain Bolt in THAT 100m final photo