For my final set project, we have been tasked with producing an image for the 2020 AOP student awards. With 3 categories of possible subject matter, the brief was once again broader than I would have liked, Category 1 is images featuring people/faces, category 2 is based on places and the final option is things.
Opting for the people option, I will try and involve my sports photography within this final hand in, this category fits the photojournalism aspects of my work. To provide context to what type of images would be considered worthy of entering I decide to go straight to the horse’s mouth and check out the AOP website and the 2019 awards.
As usual, nearly every image of people is based on staged posed subjects. Trying to avoid all the previous errors in my submissions I was looking to involve my sports in this project, the lack of any sports-based material in these awards leaves me questioning if this is due to lack of interest or quality, miby both. so I will now look back over 2018 to see how the that panned out.
As expected no sports-based images featured in this area again, however taking a break from massive productions winning the glory these images featured in the winners. More candid, personal and impactful in my opinion, although a bit vanilla what do I know about how to judge a photo comp.
Using my sports access to rugby matches will be where I will shoot my submission, arcing back to my research for most of my sports photography I will look to James Cannon for inspiration, his gritty sports shots manage to bring out the individual, even in a team game.
With the coronavirus pandemic cutting short my planned shoots, such as the Fosroc super6 final at Scotston stadium being cancelled, this curtailed my plans. However Cumbernauld Ladies managed to sneak in a small game before the lockdown commenced, this helped me capture the image I’m using for my final set project. 
Craig Murray Photography 