Double Gold Paralympian Ellie Simmonds plans to move behind the camera when she finishes her swimming career. Able magazine, with the help of the Football Association of Wales, gave her some work experience at a recent World Cup qualifier. Experienced photographer Tom Jamison reports.

When Ellie arrives – with her mum and coach, Billy – outside the media entrance at Cardiff’s magnificent Millennium Stadium, the grinning teenager in a Paralympics GB jacket looks full of energy – amazing, considering she’s literally just out of the pool after a two hour training session. In comparison, having snoozed most of the train journey down from Glasgow, I’m inexplicably ‘cream-crackered’ – how does she do it?

Ellie certainly has a strange power over people; everybodywe pass smiles and nods hello – and, trust me, nobody usually cares about photographers! In the media room, photographers and writers are milling around– plugging all sorts of laptops and portable internet devices into desks arranged like Nasa’s mission control room. Lenses the length of legs are propped against walls, while the floor is littered with flight cases and mercifully unnecessary waterproofs. Apart from the occasional double take, Ellie and I walk around unnoticed and park ourselves at a desk. With the Able features deadline still more than a month away, there’s no need for me to plug in myself; instead, I intend to give Ellie a tutorial on camera technique.

First things first, mind; it’s seven o’clock and we’re both a touch peckish. Will her ‘power diet’ allow Ellie to eat the traditional sandwich flavours on offer at the buffet? “Oh yes,” she assures me, “but I don’t want anything with vegetables. I don’t really like fruit and veg except for bananas.” She dissects her BLT and delicately picks out the tomatoes, dropping them into the bin. Just for luck she grabs a bite-size pack of digestive biscuits.

A LIFE IN SPORT

Ellie is already a world champion and Paralympics Gold medallist at the tender age of 15, but she’s mature enough to look beyond hertime in the pool – wanting to stay in sport as either a presenter or a sportsphotographer. I can certainly see her in the former role – the next Sue Barker, perhaps? – since she does everything with a smile and greets everybody warmly. But what’s she going to be like as a photographer? She seems to be taking in everything I’m saying about the camera’s controls and settings, but the truth will be seen on the sideline!

Both the Welsh and Russian teams are out skimming passes over the pristine turf; Ellie immediately fires off a few shots, experiencing firsthand how tricky it can be to think about focus and distance whilst composing the picture all at once. It’s a promising start, though, and we mark our spot just behind the Russian goal with our gear, before heading round to the tunnel since the anthems will be observed by the players just opposite.

As we walk round I’m aware of voices shouting out Ellie’s name and waving furiously at her. The occasional flash tells us that we’ve been rumbled. Before long, Ellie has to satisfy a snaking queue of autograph hunters at the edge of the stand. I now seem to have become Ellie’s personal photographer, taking shots with various camera phones thrust towards me. Ellie doesn’t seem troubled by this aspect of fame; quite the opposite in fact!

THE MATCH

The anthems pipe up and Ellie snaps a few shots of the players in front of a giant Russian flag in the stand where their travelling support have congregated; then it’s back to behind the goal.

I continue to give the odd hint since Ellie seems intent on capturing every second of the match. “What if they score at the other end?” Ellie sensibly enquires. “Well, there’s never been a photographer that’s captured every kick,” I say. “Better to wait for good shots this end. It’s not all about the goals — even the look on someone’s face can tell the story.”

Ellie’s enthusiasm is the only thing that can keep up with her energy, which manifests itself in a certain kind of impatience, Ellie demanding the players to move the game up this end. “Don’t worry,” I say. “We’re only ten minutes into the game; action is right around the corner.” Giggling Ellie gives me exactly what I deserve – a knitted brow, and smirks. “Oh, come on Tom! Action around the corner? Please…” I insist that, being a journalist, I’m allowed to come up with punchy stuff like that!

HALF TIME

With 35 minutes on the clock, Russia score – at the other end, but Ellie has been diligently snapping away and has really got to grips with the settings and controls. She seems to have the gift of picking the exact moment for a shot.

Half time; and such is Ellie’s profile now that we don’tmake it back to the media room before the Western Mail’s photographer asks for a few shots – missing the evening’s supposed special guest, former Wales halfback Terry Hennessey, in the process. And he’s clearly impressed by Ellie’s pictures.

Time for a drink, but will Ellie want some mega-energy athlete drink? No; just a cup of tea – half milk, half water and two sugars…the drink of champions!

WHO ARE YA?

The game picks up a bit in the second half and Ellie really gets into it, even though the weight of a professional standard camera and lens is pretty heavy. “This thing weighs a tonne,” she says. “I’m supposed to have muscles!” Nevertheless she carries on like a trooper!

When the mainly Welsh fans start chanting: “Who are ya? Who are ya?!” Ellie can’t help chuckling – her coach, Billy, shouts that when she flags in training. Sadly the Welsh team let in another couple of goals – and Ellie snaps the winning one! So, all that stuff about ‘it not being just about the goals’ is clearly just for those not fast enough to catch them! It’s one of a bag full of cracking shots that would grace the back page of any newspaper.

After the match we meet up with her mum. “She’s a natural, ”I tell her, Ellie grinning from ear to ear as I try to hide my envy! Sue Barker has nothing to worry about just yet, but I think Eamon McCabe, Tom Evans and other great sports photographers should probably be looking over their shoulders!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.