Becoming A Cricket Photographer
How did you become a cricket photographer?
My wife got me into it. I used to do news. I used to get beaten up and shot at a lot. And she didn't like the idea of that, so she said, "Do cricket. You've played cricket, and you like cricket." It's an easier life.
Is there any specific training to become a cricket photographer?
Now you do train to be a photographer. But I didn't. It was always around the house when I was growing up - my older brother. It was just there and I just picked it up and went on from strength to strength. I will do it till I get it right - that's the motto.
At what age can you become a cricket photographer?
Any age at all. MCC do a Young Photographer's course each August. They have a Young Photographer for each summer who I've helped to choose. They are good. They are good photographers. No age, any age will be fine.
Can you combine other roles with being a cricket photographer?
Not really, no. It is full time. There is so much cricket on in the summer here. You have got cricket on just about every day from April to September. And then in the winter if you are that dedicated, or if you can afford it basically, you can tour you know, do the cricket abroad. So no, it is a full time job. You will not do anything else with it.
Do you have to have an interest in cricket to become a cricket photographer?
You don't have to but it helps. It is one of those games. First of all you have got to have concentration. You have got to really be able to sit through particularly a test match, six hours plus, every ball, don't look away, guaranteed, something will happen if you do, if you miss a ball, that's the one that you should have taken. So, concentration is the first thing. Interest in the game, yes, otherwise you are going to struggle to concentrate for six hours on something you are not interested in. But otherwise, no it is not, it is not essential. Being a good photographer first I think is more important than being interested in cricket.
What advice would you give to an aspiring cricket photographer?
Probably, concentrate. Concentrate on every ball. Have some other ideas. Do different, don't, it can be very sheep-like. You see a lot of other photographers who just see what other photographers are doing and just go and sit next to them, then go and do the same stuff. Don't; Be different.
What equipment do you need to be a cricket photographer?
Well it's digital now you need a long lens for cricket because it all happens a long way away. The nearest person facing in your direction on a cricket field is probably 100 meters away. The batsmen have got helmets on you can't.. You need to get in close so you need good gear, a long lens, it's not cheap but there's some really good equipment out there now. With digital photography, obviously you need a laptop you need a computer of some sort. So you've got to have the means to shoot so all of your camera equipment then download then transmit depending on what you're doing with the pictures. But you need to have computer 3G the wi-fi at most grounds now you've got to be able to scratch with this stuff as well. That's the other problem if you have a problem with anything camera, computer, you've got know how to fix it on the spot get it working. Unless you're going to take spares of everything you can't do that so you got to be part photographer part sort of computer geek. Which wasn't the case previously with the old style photography now it is.
Do you you have to buy your own kit?
You buy it. You could rent it, it would be an expensive way of doing it. To start off with if you fancy doing it, wanting to know what to do, you can hire something to see what you're happy with see what your best bit of kit would be. You could rent it and then buy it. Otherwise it would be just so expensive to rent stuff if you're using it every day.
