Film

Capture the flow, freeze the dynamic - Tennis

A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.


And it's certainly true when I first opened the recent photography book a friend lent me to look through. The impact of the first photograph that I saw when I opened the book made me take a second look at it. Maybe part of it was casting me back to my childhood as the subject was Michael Chang at the French Open in 1994, but I like to think that the image held a moment in time for me and completely transported me to Roland Garros at that moment.


Michael Chang at French Open 1994 - Photograph by Clive Brunskill



This is that image! Shot in 1994 on the Suzanne Lenglen Stadium at Roland Garros. In 1989, ChangCap played one of the most memorable matches in tennis history, beating Stefan Edberg in five sets in the French Open final to win his first grand slam at just 17 years old. I watched that match when I was 9 and this photograph, even though it was from 1994, brought that memory right back.


This book quite simply reminded me why we take photographs. They're a moment in time; a memory. And it's up to us to make them as full of emotion and atmosphere as we can. 


I felt I had to share the images in the book so recorded a short video sharing my thoughts and feelings about where sports and in particular tennis, photography has come from and some tips and ambitions from me.



Please feel free to leave your questions or comments below and I really look forward to hearing from you your thoughts either on this book or other books that you may own right now.


Please subscribe on the right hand side, have a great weekend, and I'll see you anon.