Punching Above My Weight

On Saturday 21 October, I was really lucky to have the opportunity to shoot the Burnett V Zhakiyanov match for Belfast Boxers! 

I met my wonderful mentor Ally McKenzie in September when I got to shadow him on his job as photographer and videographer for Q Radio’s 80’s Mania night at the Ulster Hall (but that’s a whole other blog post on its own)

He contacted me again about the Belfast Boxers event the night before and asked if I was free to cover it, and as the media industry is ALWAYS last minute, it was only the following afternoon that the media passes and permissions came through for me to go!

I was really nervous about it because I’m not a photographer, and Ally would be attending the fight as a spectator, so it was my first solo project and I’m only just starting to shoot off the “auto” setting. Despite my lack of photography experience, I decided to just feel the fear and do it anyway!

When I arrived at the SSE Arena, I headed to the box office to give them my name as Ally instructed and was given a press pass and complimentary programme! 

I totally nerded out about the fact that I had my own pass (‘Balcony Photographer,’ no less!) and got to skip the queue and was absolutely buzzing when security asked “are you Media?” And I got to say “Yes!”

When I took my seat on the photographer’s balcony, I couldn’t help but feel intimidated by all the professionals with bags of equipment and zoom lenses bigger than my head. I could just feel them thinking “who let this 12 year old in here?” And I was thinking back “you know, I’ve no idea.”

But I made the most of the standard lens that my DSLR came with and just knuckled down and really enjoyed the experience! In spite of my initial self-doubt I had an absolute ball and actually managed to get some shots that I’m really proud of!