For Graham Brown, the secret to a perfect sports photograph can be summed up in three words: timing, persistence, and a lot of luck. This mantra not only defines his approach behind the lens but also perfectly describes his own unexpected journey into professional photography.
An Unlikely Path to the Sidelines
Now a familiar face on the touchlines of Illawarra's football grounds, Brown's career began in a very different field. He spent over two decades in the radio and music industry, producing ads and programs, before his life took a sharp turn in his mid-to-late 40s.
"I've always been interested in photography, but I'd never bitten the bullet and got a professional camera until about nine years ago," Brown explained. The catalyst was one of his sons joining a local Illawarra Premier League (IPL) club. A retired fellow Tarrawanna photographer, Noel Wynn, became his mentor, lending Brown a spare 15-year-old camera and showing him the ropes.
"I was fortunate at the time to be working for Sony, which meant I could get hold of their gear at quite a reasonable cost," he said. About seven years ago, he made the full commitment, investing in his own professional equipment. "The more you take, the more you learn, I find," Brown reflects on his rapid skill development. "Whether it's a night-time game, whether it's in the rain, you learn different skills through different environments."
Capturing the Heartbeat of Sport
For Brown, the appeal of sports photography goes beyond just capturing action. It's about freezing raw human emotion. "I really enjoy taking a great photo and allowing other people to enjoy that moment," he said. He cites the euphoria of a grand final win at WIN Stadium, where players celebrate with fans at the fence, as the kind of moment he lives to capture.
"I get a buzz, I get a bit of an adrenaline rush from capturing amazing moments," Brown admits. "My wife feels that I capture the emotion very well. I think capturing human emotion is one of those things that just resonates with me and a lot of people who see those photos."
His deep understanding of football, a sport he has played his whole life, gives him a unique edge. "I understand the game so well and I know kind of where the ball is going to be next... I can anticipate what things are going to happen."
A Gruelling Weekend Routine
The life of a dedicated local sports photographer is far from a weekend hobby. During the football season, Brown's Saturdays are marathon sessions. He typically starts at a Football South Coast match around 10am and covers three fixtures back-to-back, finishing around 5pm.
The work doesn't stop when he leaves the ground. "I'll get home, then spend about an hour offloading photos from my camera," he describes. After selecting images for social media posts for his club, Tarrawanna, he embarks on the lengthy editing process. He spends around three hours editing photos from each match, totalling roughly nine hours of post-production after a typical Saturday.
His passion often pushes him further. During the A-League season, he'll frequently drive from a local match to stadiums like CommBank, Campbelltown, or Allianz to cover top-flight men's or women's games. While Football South Coast employs him, he covers the A-League voluntarily to hone his craft. "I want to improve what I do and learn from the other professionals who are there," he stated.
Global Recognition for Local Talent
Brown's skill and dedication have earned him acclaim far beyond the Illawarra. One of his favourite images, dubbed "Armageddon Clouds" and captured at Ian McLennan Park, won a Special Merit Award in the Venues & Views category of the 2024 World Sports Photography Awards. This prestigious competition attracted entries from over 1,400 photographers across 82 countries.
"I snapped around 400 photos in 20 minutes, attempting to capture this," Brown said of the award-winning shot, proving his own motto correct. Another image, a lighter moment from the 2022 UCI Women's Elite Road Race featuring British cyclist Elynor Backstedt, earned a finalist spot in the competition's CYCLING category in 2023.
While football is his mainstay, Brown's ambition isn't limited to one sport. "I'd love to shoot sports that I haven't really shot a lot of, such as tennis," he said. "I definitely don't want to limit myself to football."
From a borrowed camera to international awards, Graham Brown's story is a testament to where passion, a keen eye, and a willingness to learn can lead. For the Illawarra sporting community, it means their most thrilling and emotional moments are preserved by someone who truly feels the game.
