20 PROFILEALEX IRWIN
FOR THE LOVE…
ALEX
IRWIN
SPORTOGRAPHY PROFILE
ALEX IRWIN IS FAST BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED
PHOTOGRAPHERS WITHIN THE SAILING WORLD. HE’S ALSO GETTING
MORE INVOLVED WITH WINDSURFING, AS CAN BE SEEN BY LAST
ISSUE’S SIMON WINKLEY COASTAL SAILING ARTICLE AND THIS VERY
ONE YOU’RE HOLDING IN YOUR HANDS. WE CAUGHT UP WITH ALEX TO
FIND OUT MORE.
Tell us a bit about your watersports background.
Keen swimmer, kayaker, sailor and love being out on the water or in it.
When did you first discover the joys of photography? What was your
initial subject matter?
We had tickets to Wimbledon and we were lucky enough to see the final between Roger Federer
and Rafael Nadal when Nadal beat Federer. It was possibly the best match I have ever watched.
This was before the roof cover was fitted on centre court. The match was delayed several times
for rain; by the last game it was almost dark and I kept on shooting every bit. He won, he
dropped to the floor in joy and stayed there for some time – everyone was so happy for him and
I kept snapping and snapping capturing the moments. I was then sitting there taking it all in,
looking through the images I’d captured and someone came over and said they would like to
buy the images without seeing them. I grabbed the moment and the chap bought every single
one. I knew then that this was the career for me – getting paid to capture amazing moments
and doing something you love as well.
uk
WIND
SURFING