This is the second in my series of interviews with the creative people involved in the Olympics. Tom Dymond is Rex Features’ youngest staff photographer and the youngest photographer to be accredited to shoot top-league football. I spoke to him about what it means to him to document the Olympics and how people at the top of their game, no matter what their game is, inspire him to achieve more.
You’ve achieved a lot at a very young age – what’s the secret to your success?!
There’s no secret: just a lot of hard work and not a lot of sleep! Luckily [University College] Falmouth set a great foundation to work from and made me the photographer I am today. With Rex I started a few years back as an intern on the picture desk, and kept a good relationship with everyone there during my time at university and it went from there… I guess my photography comes into it as well.
Which Olympic hopeful have you most enjoyed photographing?
I enjoyed photographing some of the bigger names – there’s alway this electric atmosphere when shooting Jess Ennis and Mo Farah, but I enjoyed shooting some of the less well known people just as much. Their passion, drive and commitment is very inspiring and really fuels me to lift my game.
What’s the importance of documenting the Olympics?
Documenting the Olympics feels extremely important, because I will never see another Olympics on my own home soil in my lifetime. I find the legacy left by the Olympics and the legends created by Olympic events really interesting and inspiring. I have always loved watching the Olympics on television, but now England is the hosting nation, I just had to put my own little mark on it somehow. And it is just the start of a great five years for English sport with the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup coming to Britain.
What are you most proud of?
I’m my own harshest critic when it comes to my images, but I am really proud, and feel very fortunate, to have a job I love.
What influence did the Westcountry have on your work?
My time in Falmouth has had a major influence on me and my work. The three years I had at university in Falmouth where fantastic; and the experiences I had, the friends I made and the things I learnt have shaped me into who I am. I dont think any other university would have had this influence on me. The natural beauty in Cornwall and laid back culture was the perfect balance to course work and the hard work you have to put in. (And I’m sure Skinners had a a part to play as well…!)
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: natasha ratcliffe
- interview :: donna wilson
- interview :: sian zeng
- interview :: michelle ogundehin
