Interesting Career
Getting Around
and gave myself six months to learn to swim and run . I came to love triathlon , and that really got me into pro sport photography .”
Chris had started photography as a hobby in the 80s , in the days of film cameras , and taught himself by reading magazines bought at the CNA , in the days before online tutorials . Years later , after falling off his mountain bike , breaking a shoulder and being told he couldn ’ t move his arm for 20 weeks , he missed the races so much that he took his camera to an event and started shooting . “ I really enjoyed it – even more than competing – so for the next two years I went out every weekend to shoot events , thinking I could make a living from it . Then the organisers of the BSG Tri Series saw my pics and asked me to shoot their national series . I had no idea how to quote for a job that size , but I got the job . So it all really started from breaking my shoulder !”
Interesting Career
Born in England , Chris and his family came out to South Africa when he was 11 . While still at school and aged just 16 , he played two years of professional soccer in what was then the national third division . “ I was paid the princely sum of 50 cents a match , which was huge money back then !” says Chris . He also got into rally car driving for 10 years , working up from
the amateur to pro ranks , and even managed a second place in the Western Province Rally Champs . Other than sport , Chris also had some interesting jobs over the years .
“ When I left school , I got into electronics and had a shop in Wynberg that sold and repaired appliances . At the same time , having complained to the police after a third break-in at my shop , they suggested I become a police reservist . Well , I took the challenge and ended up with the Flying Squad , and even did a SWAT course . I was one of only two people who got 100 % on the shooting course that year . However , I eventually got sick of the appliance business , because it wasn ’ t challenging and I didn ’ t want to do that for another 40 years , so I sold the business ,” says Chris .
“ Next I started a paintball business , working just two days a week for four years , but then the industry exploded and quickly became oversubscribed , so I went back to electronics . I got into onboard computers for trucks , right at the beginning of the computer age , and was later bought out by a new Internet Service Provider ( ISP ) company , who appointed me to head up the launch . Today that company is known as Vox Telecom . After that I got into fulltime photography , which is what I ’ ve been doing for the last six years .”
“ it helps knowing something about a sport in order to know what to look for , and where to position yourself on a course to get the best shots , and here Chris is well covered , since he is an experienced runner , rider and triathlete himself ”
Getting Around
Now well established as one of the leading sports photographers in SA , Chris has had his work published in major magazines all over the world . “ I have also been privileged to photograph a wide range of top sports stars , from Springbok rugby captains to Olympians , and most of them are just ordinary , down to earth people , with a passion for what they do , and it is nearly always a pleasure to shoot them .”
However , it ’ s action photography that gets Chris the most excited , and he says his favourite event to shoot is the Ironman triathlon in Port Elizabeth . “ My day starts at 4am and ends around 1am the next day , and I have to shoot all three legs , so I have to get to motorbike and helicopter pick-up points , all on foot , through thousands of spectators , while uploading and tagging pics ! The biggest challenge in this job is knowing where to go to shoot . That ’ s why I often ask organisers for a Google earth file of their route , so that I can pick spots where I think I ’ ll get the best shots , then programme the co-ordinates into my GPS so that I can quickly hoof it there on race day . And that ’ s why being fit really pays off !”
Swimming Reflection , Discovery Cape Town Triathlon Praying Grannie , Ironman 70.3
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