SULAY KELLY:
As the BCOMS masterclasses wrap up for my cohort, I wanted to reflect on three opportunities that I had the pleasure of working on thanks to the BCOMS team.1. England v Hungary, 12 October 2021
This was a special one. Shooting a football game was on my list of goals since shifting my focus to working within the football space before applying to join the masterclasses, however I didn’t think that the first time I would be doing it would be at Wembley Stadium shooting some of the country’s best players. Being so close to the action was a little bit daunting at first (especially whilst pointing very expensive camera equipment towards it) but it’s an experience I’ll never forget. A big thanks again to the team for putting me forward for such an opportunity, where I was also able to pull on past experiences to shoot fans before the game and architecture shots of the stadium after the game at the FA’s request, and continue to work with the them to capture more games in the following months.
2. Arsenal v Brighton, 9 April 2022
Another memorable one for me. This game came in the later stages of the season so I had already captured a few more games for the England team. I was beginning to feel more confident in the photo pit which led me to experimenting a bit more with some of my shots. I’ll also always remember the day fondly due to how welcoming the Arsenal team were especially kind and helpful, especially Arsenal’s in house photographer Stuart MacFarlane who gave me some great advice before, during and after the game. Once again, it was incredible to be so close to the action, this time in another of one of the world’s biggest stadiums.
3. Football Black List Awardees, 15 May 2022
Finally, I had the very special opportunity to capture some of the Football Black List’s awardees for their contributions to the game in the West Midlands. The BCOMS masterclasses and the opportunities presented to me were crucial to building my portfolio and being considered for important projects such as this one. As much as we all celebrate the players, I think it’s crucial to recognise all the people who do work behind the scenes, in their community and beyond because they contribute massively to making it the beautiful game that we all love.
Overall, it’s been incredible to be a part of the BCOMS family. I have made great connections inside and outside of my cohort and been able to work in spaces that I thought would take a lot longer to get to due to the team’s willingness to put me forward and trust in my ability. I can’t wait to see what great things the other members of my cohort go on to do, and look forward to meeting some of the next wave of BCOMS applicants when they also inevitably go on to achieve greatness.
HOLLY BACONS:
BCOMS has given me the platform and opportunity to take my career to the next level. Throughout the series of masterclasses, I’ve been equipped with skills and contacts to help me flourish in the industry.
When I first enrolled onto the programme, I was beginning my first year of university studying sports journalism. Since then, I’ve secured placements with BBC Radio Sheffield and The Telegraph. I’ve also gone on to secure paid work for BBC Sport over the Commonwealth Games.
I plan to continue building up my portfolio until I’m looking for a full-time role post-graduation. There is no doubt that the contacts and experiences I’ve gained through the BCOMS Masterclass Programme will help me in doing this.
The highlight of the whole experience for me was the commentary masterclass with Vicki Sparks at Old Trafford. As an aspiring broadcaster it was an invaluable experience to speak to and learn from such an experienced commentator.. I picked up a number of tips and tricks which helped me when covering a Premier League 2 game at Old Trafford.
