Simon's new slant on aquatic photography
SIMON Wright doesn't mince his words. "In the world of swimming and aquatic sports most photographs are pretty awful.
"All they show are heads above water of people swimming, which is great, but they don't say anything about the person or do anything to promote the sport."
Before swimmers with cameras push him off the diving board at Ponds Forge, where he is a member of the City of Sheffield Masters Swimming Club, Simon knows what he's talking about.
Last November the Diary published his picture of the club's ladies water polo team before they set off for the European Championships in Russia and it created a bit of a stir.
It wasn't at all like the usual sporty picture and got a lot of attention. Although the girls sank in Russia it did no harm to their sport.
Since last year Simon, director of a local IT company and keen swimmer, has been steadily working his way around the club. "We thought if we can do it for water polo we can do it for swimming and diving," he says.
Not for him heads in water but candid and action shots as he has photographed the youngsters in the club's junior diving teams and the paralympic athletes.
All can be seen on a new website (GBswimstars.com) and after catching sight of the results other swimming clubs are saying "We'll have a bit of that." He's just going over to Doncaster Dartes to give them an image boost.
The BBC has not been slow to pick up on Simon, recently filming him in action at Manchester for a yet to be seen programme.
Simon is particularly pleased with the junior divers. "All this wonderful stuff is happening in Sheffield but nobody knows about it."
Some of the shots have been used as motivational posters with captions such as 'courage' or 'self belief' and sent out to schools to publicise the sport and get more recruits.
"If you have to get up at 5.30am in the morning to go to the pool it helps if you look at a poster for a minute to boost your motivation," says Simon.
He has nothing but admiration for youngsters like Sheffield's European gold medallist James Milton, particularly since Simon has no head for heights.
"I had to take some of the photos from the 10m board and hang on with one hand trying not to throw up while holding the camera with the other."
Back down poolside getting an action shot under the board was not always easier.
"Divers wipe themselves down with a sort of chamois leather and then drop it off the board. Several times one hit me on the head sending water into the camera!"
As well as the youngsters he's done glamour shots of the girls water polo team and some 'beefcake' pictures of their opposite number's in the men's team.
The website, which was originally intended for the club, has now been extended to clubs across the country.
"The idea is to use powerful, memorable photographs to help promote, support and motivate those in the sport."
And not just the stars. He's planning a series on the coaches, trainers and volunteers who help the athletes get where they are.
- To see all the pictures visit www.GBswimstars.com
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Friday 25 May 2012
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