An Introduction

Simon King: Hello and welcome to the Pitchside Eye. My name is Simon King. I'm a sports photographer whose work has been published in newspapers, magazines and websites around the world. I'm also a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to photograph everything from club rugby to international sport, including covering the recent Women's Rugby World Cup. Photography has taken me to some incredible places and given me the opportunity to witness unforgettable moments, both on and off the field of play. This podcast is my opportunity to share some of those stories. So what is the pitchside eye? It isn't about camera settings. It isn't really just about photography gear, at least not most of the time. Instead, it's about the stories behind the images, what the photo means to me, the things that were happening around me, the people involved, the emotions. the atmosphere and why certain photographs stay with me years after they were taken. Sometimes we'll talk about a single image. Sometimes we'll look at a collection of photographs from a match, tournament or event. And occasionally we'll dive into gear, workflow, remote cameras and some of the techniques I use professionally. I'll also be interviewing fellow photographers to get an insight into their careers, highs, lows and some anecdotes they might have. But this show starts with stories. So what's coming up in the next few weeks? In the next episode, I'll show you three photographs that form part of the panel, which led me to being awarded my fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in November, 2021. Those images capture three very different aspects of rugby, leadership, passion, and triumph. After that, we'll head to Italy for one of the most extraordinary events I've ever photographed, the Palio di Siena. An event that stirs the emotions and passions of the different districts or contrada of the historic city. And then we'll move on to the Women's Rugby World Cup, where I'll share some of my favorite photographs and memories from the tournament. As the podcast develops, I'll be reviewing equipment, discussing techniques, and talking with other sports photographers about the images that define their careers. But first, here's a quick selection of images I've taken over the years to give you a flavor of what's to come. you're interested in sport, photography, storytelling, or simply seeing what happens behind the scenes through a photographer's eyes, then I hope you'll join me on the journey. Thank you for listening to this first episode of The Pitchside Eye. Get in touch if you have any comments or suggestions. I'm Simon King, and I'll see you next time.