Exeter City Women use the phrase “if you can see it, you can be it” as a motivation to player, fans, and society – I plan to present photographs of young fans and potential future players to celebrate and support this aspiration.
There are some elements of portraiture. I have very limited control over time and space (and light!) when capturing these moments. I’m there to provide timely, crisp action shots. Fast shutter speeds, low aperture and tracking moving players at high speed. The switch to watching people, seeking their connectivity is a real challenge both technically and artistically. I have found using two separate bodies and lenses supports this quick change when I am running around the pitch before and after the match.
Images 1,3, 10 and 12 are intended to frame are portraits of young female supporters and aspiring players. They have a feel of street portraiture in that they are not posed and the is little control of the environment. Many shots are taking in the middle of the day and that may mean high bright sunshine or in the evening under flood lights. I see fun, determination, enthusiasm, and playfulness in these shots.
Images 2 and 8 are scene setting and show the “If you can see it….” concept. Look at the admiration from the young player facing the adult player in shot 2.
Images 4,5,6 and 7 showcase the connection – contrast this to men’s professional players – as reported recently – “A young boy in Leeds kit waves cheerily but some players appear to file straight past him and other devoted followers” (Sky News, 2023)
Images 11 occurred in early September 2023. Exeter played the second of 3 competitive games in 8 days. The match finished at 2130 hrs and there was a late summer heat wave. The young fans had waited to greet the players, but the coach insisted on a lengthy cool down and stretch. Rather than disengage from the fans one of the players invited the youngster to join in with the cool down. It was simply beautiful. Shot 9 shows the impact of that connection - joy.
