Sport Photography

I got the opportunity to be involved with a sports photographer Matthew Montgomery helping with a project for Liverpool John Moores Sports - Varsity.

Matthew was inspired after building his own PC few years back, he was hoping to learn video editing as a hobby then later when lockdown came he helped created work during the pandemic. During the result of the impact of his work he was awarded High Sheriff of Manchester Young Citizen of the year. Following on to receiving paid commissions to storyboard, direct, film and edit short films for Didsbury Civic Society and LJMU sport teams and other events such as the charity boxing which is also where we met. Going further he has began BA Honours degree in Media Production at the prestigious Liverpool Screen School at LJMU.

He went through different settings and spoke about how different sports can affect the camera outcome.

There was lots of trial and error from players' attention and actions.

I do look at carrying on working further with them and how I can approach photography in my project.

I was interested in what he was observing which inspired me to take a photovoice approach.

Photovoice is a research method that combines photography with grassroots social action. It was developed in the 1990s by Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris as a way to enable marginalized communities to represent their own realities and advocate for change.

In a photovoice project, participants, often those who are marginalized or affected by a particular issue, are given cameras or other means to create visual images. They are then encouraged to capture images that represent their experiences, perspectives, and concerns related to a specific topic or theme. These images are usually accompanied by narratives or captions written by the participants themselves, explaining the significance of the images.

Photovoice projects typically involve a process of reflection and dialogue, where participants come together to discuss the photos they have taken, share their stories, and identify common themes or issues. The goal is to empower participants to voice their own experiences and perspectives, and to use their visual narratives as a tool for advocacy, awareness-raising, and social change.

Photovoice has been used in a wide range of contexts, including public health, community development, education, and social justice initiatives. It is valued for its ability to engage participants in the research process, amplify their voices, and generate insights that might not be captured through traditional research methods.

I'll be using photovoice to document players views, experiences as female athletes involving injuries, menstrual cycle and stigma.