Leaving the paper was for me, a necessity. The only time I have not enjoyed my photographic journey, apart from the odd bit of fatigue that we all get, was at the paper.

The combination of poor integration, zero feedback, self doubt, imposter syndrome even, fuelled by choosing to just not fit the “mould”, missing my previous life at the school and little connection to either the paper or the subject matter meant leaving or giving it all up totally.

There were fun times of course.

I enjoyed the sports team and they were different to the general editorial pool to work with. The subject matter was generally more interesting, the work routine more natural to me and some specific sports would become favourites. Oddly, those sports were often not the ones I would choose to watch, which turned out almost universally to be boring to shoot.

The JackJumpers games in particular were a highlight both photographically and a decent representation of my work. The other togs were keen to have me only shoot what they called the “minimum required” and get out early, which was an ongoing theme.

The sports team on the other hand were hungry for images, as we in the state’s north only got a few games a season and the resulting images needed to last us the season, or as it turned out when we won the national championships, the whole year.

It is still cool that even a year after leaving and eighteen months since my last game, my images still pop up regularly in the paper. Reward for ignoring the advice of the other jaded togs and taking and captioning dozens of images, not just a handful.

I did however, have mixed feelings when the team visited the school today.

I miss little from the paper, but I do miss some of the sport, the JJ’s in particular.

No regrets though, I have done that, been there and have plenty to do now.

I also firmly believe sports and all other passions are worth documenting at any level. These people at the top get the attention they deserve, but how much effect can an image of a similar calibre have for a young budding star, or even an on-the-fence try hard looking for a reason to keep going.

Shooting at the top level gives you national attention, but gets lost in the tidal wave of content. Getting a decent shot of that 3rd division under 13 battler, or the second row from the back extra in the junior school production genuinely affects that person and those close to them.

I think I actually prefer that.