PARIS - MAY 28: Maria Sharapova of Russia serves during the Women’s Singles first round match against Eygeniya Rodina of Russia on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, 2008 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

What a difference the sun makes!

Photographing tennis on the orange clay of Roland Garros is awesome, especially when the sun is shining. The orange color saturates really well. It is the perfect palette. The players literally jump off the background. The shadows are beautiful. So are the swirls and streaks in the clay created as the match carries on.

The weather is warm. The play is good. Our editor is happy…

But what also makes the French Open so incredible to cover is the French attitude toward photography, which they hold in high regard. The Federation Francaise de Tennis, the FFT, has gone to great lengths to create desireable photo positions. They are well aware of the aesthetic nature of their venue as well as the need to document the tournament for posterity. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the organization of the French Open.

A friend of mine, a fellow American, summed it up best when he stated that it is impossible to look at any event in the US the same way ever again, after working at Roland Garros. Here, the photographer is truly spoiled.

PARIS - MAY 30: Michael Llodra of France celebrates his victory during the Men’s Singles third round match against Simone Bolelli of Italy on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2008 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

PARIS - MAY 26: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves during the Men’s Singles first round match against Sam Querrey of USA on day two of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 26, 2008 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Greetings my name is Matthew Stockman and I am a photographer for Getty Images based in Louisville, Kentucky. At present I am in Paris covering the French Open tennis event held at Roland Garros, the second of the four major Grand Slam tournaments. I will be blogging to you throughout the tournament.

There is no ‘I’ in team of course. I am joined my colleagues Mike Hewitt, Julian Finney and Justin Davies all from our London office. Fine bunch of lads as they say in their country and I have had the pleasure of working with them before at other international events.

Day 1, Sunday? Normally tournaments start play on Monday. The Sunday trend started a few years ago here and it has remained. It is my guess the eventually all the Grand Slams will start on the Sunday. There is a lot of tennis to be played over the next two weeks and to be honest we were all ready to get it underway. I’m sure the players are too.

I’ll catch up with you once things get started…