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DAVID ASHDOWN PHOTOGRAPHY
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Q & A with David

What cameras did you use?
Always Nikon, always.

Why Nikons?
In 1970 I was just starting out in the business and the first camera I bought was a Nikon F for £125 in a second hand dealer’s shop in Tooting. I've stuck with them ever since and never regretted it. and no I don't still have it, unfortunately.

What is your favourite sport to photograph & why?
Thats a tough one but I think I'd have to go with Cricket. You need a lot of patience to photograph cricket, it can be hours before the picture presents itself. When it does it can happen very fast and be quite spectacular.

Were there any photographers who inspired you when you started out ?
Although I admired many people In the industry I decided early on that I would go my own way photographically which is what I have always done. I think that is why I have my own recognisable style.
David, you've covered 40 Wimbledon Tournaments in your long career, do you have  a favourite picture
The one that gave me the most satisfaction was taken in 1993 on the Centre Court in the early evening. I was sitting watching Chris Baily the he made a cross court pass and was heading for the umpire's chair.

​I grabbed my Nikon F4 with a 300mm 2.8 lens. The lens was set at 2.8 and i used manual focus (no auto then).
He missed the umpire but knocked the net cord judge over. I had never seen the happen before and it will never happen again as there are no longer net cord judges at Wimbledon.
Tennis Photography by David Ashdown photographer
Click to enlarge
How do you decide which matches to cover during Wimbledon?
Seeded players and any potential British winners are the obvious choice and they are decided on that morning.

How does the weather affect photographing football & rugby matches?
If it is raining the problem is protecting the cameras and computers from getting wet. It makes life more difficult & I get wet !

What is your favourite photograph & why ?
Andrew Strauss (below) taken at 4th test match England v Australia at Trent Bridge 27.08 2005. This position is one not normally taken by photographers as it rarely produces a good picture . In this instance it did !  I think this is one of the most stunning catch pictures that I’ve ever seen even though it’s mine ! It was the pivotal moment of going on to win the third Test Match.
Andrew Strauss taken at 4th test match England v Australia at Trent Bridge by David Ashdown, photographer
Questions continue below...
​

What influenced your decision to become a photographer?
I always had an interest in taking pictures from a young age. Getting a job as a motorcycle messenger delivering photographs around London was the spur to eventually becoming a full-time professional photographer.

What is the most dangerous sport you have photographed?
I have had many challenging assignments over the years but without a doubt it has to be Class 1 powerboat racing from a helicopter in Dubai. Good job I was harnessed in!
( Learn about it in the blog here )

Do you prefer digital to film?
I started to shoot digitally in 2000 using Nikons first professional camera, the D1, but It wasn’t until 2004 when the first equivalent digital camera appeared that I could say that I preferred digital to film.  Before then the quality of digital cameras looking back was truly awful in compassion to the DSLRS of today, even the new Iphone has better picture quality, well in good light !

Was it difficult changing from film to digital?
Not at all, it actually made life a lot easier for me. However, learning to use the computer and all the photo editing software was an entirely different matter!

Why did you decide to concentrate on Sports Photography?
As a news photographer life is very unpredictable and not easy to organise family life around. I also enjoy the spontaneity of sport and the fact that it encompasses all aspects of newspaper photography.

You travelled the world with your job, what was the best assignment, in which country and why ?
The three England Cricket tours of the Caribbean. Apart from the beautiful weather and the stunning light the working conditions were very relaxed. Unlike many places I traveled to the time difference worked to my advantage. It was 5 hours behind UK time which meant an early finish for me. 
​

Learn the story behind the pictures from the man behind the lens in David's Journal.

Journal

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