RUFC World Cup Final Eve

How exciting, sat here on the Eve of a rugby union World Cup with one of the home nations in the final.  I, like others, will be up early and supporting England as they take on the Spring bokkes of South Africa in the final.  

Will England be able to reverse the fortunes of the 2007 final played in France where on that occasion the South Africans took the honours 15-6. Today has been a busy day for me I had to sit the Marshal / rally cross accreditation training for Motor Sport UK, so I and the crew can document one of our clients journeys in the vintage RAC rally later in the month.  Now this is a hoop I’ve never had to jump through before to get accreditation but so be it, this is something special for a special client and a special event.

It got me thinking though.  I’ve had the privilege of shooting everything from the world renowned Isle of Man Tourist Trophy to World championship  boxing matches, professional rugby and football to the British cycling  championships, horse racing etc, etc.

Ok, great for me but how does that help any of my “Photofriends” who can’t get the sort of accreditation I’m used to and then it hit me!  When I do this sort of thing its my job, yes I love it but it doesn’t get my blood pumping as much as my favourite sporting endeavour.

My middle boy plays for Widnes RUFC and I try and watch every match I can, as his dad but also as “team photographer” – yep sad but I really do live my life through a lens. Hands down these lads are my favourite team to shoot, to me they are all heroes and I marvel at the time and effort they all put in week in week out sunshine or rain, to be fair its mostly rain!  

Nothing gets my blood pumping as much as shooting these matches, its been a privilege to watch the lads grow and develop over the years.  Then it struck me… YOU could do this to!

Games are played up and down the country every weekend.  All you’d need to do is approach your local club, and ask permission and get a DBS check, you may have to prove you have good intentions and treat everybody with respect.  Thing is all you need do is ask… they can only say “No”!

When shooting a sport it helps a little if you understand it, that way you can predict a little of whats going to happen and anticipate the shot… maybe I’m just giving you an excuse to go and watch lots of Saturday afternoon TV – who knows lol.

On the eve of such a momentous match I was sifting through images to post for the lads as a commiseration gift should England succumb again and it dawned on me, for the boys I’ve changed my shooting style a little without even realising it.  Instead of looking into the action as I do for my job I’m pulling back a little and placing the action within a frame full of context, team mates faces, expressions and the “animation” going on at the periphery  of the frame.  Not every shot, but enough to build a sort of playing social history I guess.  I know when I look at images of my boy I crave something more than just “wham bam” action… I want narrative and context.  Lifes short and I guess I’m building his history as I am for his team mates.  

Even if you don’t have a child or relative playing I’d still urge you to give it a go as you’ll soon have your own favourite “stars” to follow and just think of what you’d be doing for your own community, that and that alone is priceless.

All these images were shot on the Olympus EM-1 mk 2 with either the 40-150mm f2.8 pro, or the 300mm f4 pro, with or without the 1.4 converter .  I love the fact that the camera makes doing 80 minutes “dooable” at my age and with my knackered joints.  This is one of the reasons I love this kit, actually the weather sealing is a big plus as well lol.

Its an amazing thing to do if you just want to get out and sharpen your skills with your camera.  Personally I’m not a big fan of “40 million frames a second”, you still miss the shot!!!  I like 3 or 4 frames a second, picking my moment to shoot.  I really don’t want to come home with 3000 frames to sift through, I’m too bloody lazy!

So whats not to like, get out, take your camera, get in the elements and ENJOY, give something back to your own community.  We are the authors of our own social history!

All that is left to do is to say… “Come on ENGLAND”!!!