World Cup inspires photographer – Interview with Gino D’Andrea

• Like
• +1

My hope for the Women’s World Cup in Canada was a lasting legacy of hundreds or even thousands of youngsters inspired to take up the game.

What I didn’t anticipate was that one young man would have found the tournament so enthralling that he would google his closest team (Chelsea) buy a camera, go along to the next game and take photos from the stand!

This young man is ex police officer and current nursing student, Gino D’Andrea. After sharing his photos via social media with the team and receiving such a favourable response, he was hooked, given a press pass and has been at every Chelsea match since, taking photos from the touchline.

Gino has been championed by Chelsea Vice Captain, Gilly Flaherty and by the Chelsea Ladies Supporters Group for whom he now provides photos.

Shortly after that first game, Gilly Flaherty recommended Gino’s photos to accompany an article she was being interviewed for by Amor magazine.  He was thrilled.  The portfolio grows!

When I asked Gino what his ambitions are, he told me that he would love to see more of his work in print and to shoot interviews with players. In the meantime he is very happy that the players enjoy his work.

Gino’s style is quite original and he is often asked how he gets the results he does – he didn’t really let on!

I wondered if, now that the WSL football season is over, Gino would include other sports in his portfolio.  He responded that he would love to try cricket. In the meantime he has produced a promotional video for a boxing event at the O2 Arena in November and is on the lookout for any local ladies teams that need photos.

Gino’s work has even been complimented by comedian Ed Byrne, after a chance comment on twitter about a gig he [Gino] had attended.

We at 4TLOS often struggle to get good photos to use (as a self-funded group) so have been delighted to be able to use some of Gino’s photos on the site – he is very generous in sharing his work.

It has been incredibly refreshing to be able to find out a little more about this talented young man.  His reasons for taking up sports photography so simple, and so genuine: he loves women’s sport and he loves photography!

I am also glad we took up Gilly Flaherty’s suggestion to follow Gino on twitter.

4TLOS wish Gino D’Andrea all the very best for the future, we hope he goes from strength to strength, continues to enjoy taking his wonderful photographs and that more of his work appears in print.  The full Q&A is below:

 

My Q&A with talented sports photographer Gino D’Andrea

Why did you decide to specialise in women’s sport?

I love women’s sport – especially football, and I love taking photos.

Do you focus on Chelsea in particular – did you start as a fan of the men’s team?

I don’t follow men’s football anymore. I support Chelsea Ladies and my Chelsea shirt proudly has Flaherty #5 on the back. I take photos on behalf of the Chelsea Ladies Supporters Group so most of my photo sets are of Chelsea Ladies and whoever they are facing on the day.

How long have you been a women’s sport photographer?

OK, so this always surprises people when they ask me and I almost feel guilty for saying it. I actually didn’t even own a camera until June this year. After the Women’s World Cup, I googled my local ladies team which happened to be Chelsea and I fell in love with them!  I bought a cheap camera, which is the one that I am still using now, and I took some photos from the crowd as they played against Arsenal. To my amazement the players actually liked them.  I contacted the club to ask for some experience but I got turned down due to having no accreditation. Gilly Flaherty (Vice Captain!) being the absolute legend that she is, got me on the photographers’ list for their very next game. From then on I have adopted the role of a Freelance Photographer and have been taking photos at all of their games.

Do you now or will you in the future do other women’s sport i.e. rugby or cricket or will you concentrate on football?

I would really like to branch out a bit in to other sports, however I just can’t get my head around the rules of rugby and I would probably be facing the wrong way for most of the game! I’d definitely give cricket a go if there are any local teams that need photos!? Contact me and I’ll do it!

Now that WSL1 & 2 are finished for the season will you cover any of the WPL sides?

I think one of the positives of the WSL1 finishing at around this time, is the fact that the Elite Development Squad’s league is only just starting. I’ll be following the Chelsea Ladies EDS around doing their photos.  Aside from football I have just shot a promo video for a gym, done some promo shots for a friend who is fighting at the O2 Arena in November and filmed and produced a video for a pro boxer who has an upcoming title fight.

How do you cope with your nursing training (long hours and stress) and your photography?

I’m used to it because up until very recently I was a Police Officer. Prior to the Chelsea Ladies game against Glasgow I was actually revising for an Anatomy and Physiology exam in my car whilst eating sweets. It’s the Emergency Services diet!

I haven’t seen a huge amount of your work but what I have seen has been terrific, I like the combination of action shots and the more ‘arty’ ones which do you prefer doing?

Thank you very much. I love to do both. There’s not really anyone else producing the style of edit that I do and I get a lot of messages from people asking how I created them which is always nice. My starting point is generally contrast up, brightness down – and the rest I make up as I go.

Do you find access to the teams easy?

Well, one thing that I simply haven’t lived down is accidently walking in to an interview on BT sport after Chelsea won the WSL1 trophy! Not only was it broadcast live, but it was also on all of the highlight reels too and I just look lost.  On a more serious note, I have Gilly (Flaherty) to thank for opening the door for me in the first place to the world of match day photography. From then on I have to thank the Supporters Group for getting me pitch side at the games that I have been unable to get a pass for, for whatever reason. It’s a competitive game.

Are the club’s helpful – do you have to apply for press passes wherever you go and do you get them?

For me it varies from club to club. I have found out the hard way numerous times at the start that they don’t just let anyone with a camera get a press pass. There are a lot of people asking for one. I’m so thankful to not have this struggle anymore. I’ve gotten used to just turning up at the gates.

What is your ambition artistically?

I’d really like to shoot some interviews with the players and get some more of my work printed in magazines.

How did you feel when you saw your work in print in a magazine for the first time – does it still give you a buzz?

Funnily enough, these were pictures again of Gilly! She was interviewed for Amor Magazine, they requested some pictures and she chose mine.  Sadly there were some crossed wires somewhere and I wasn’t actually credited for my work in the end. It still looks awesome though and it’s gone in the portfolio. No hard feelings.

Do you get much feedback from the players you photograph?

I do and I really appreciate it. I won’t name any names, but when players recognise me, come up and say “hi” before or after a game or even just tweet me to say ‘thanks’ it’s the best feeling ever. It certainly makes it all worth it.

Amazing to get a positive comment from the comedian Ed Byrne – do you think that helped raise your profile.

This was bizarre. I saw him perform live and complimented him after the show via twitter only for him to tweet me back and compliment my photos. I don’t have many followers on Twitter but they did go up after he tweeted me, so thank you, Sir!

I find it quite hard going raising the profile of my website and sometimes getting the information needed to report on different sports/matches is that something you struggle with too?

I guess it’s a whole different ball game (no pun intended). All I need to do to get more content is to go to a game and take some photos or to open up Photoshop on my computer. I’m not too bothered about raising my profile because as long as the players like my photos and they have some use for them then I am happy.

 

You can follow Gino on Twitter @_Gino_D and Instagram: instagram.com/_Gino_D