Perse scholar Ollie builds success in images

Perse scholar Ollie, who has simply completed his GCSEs, has mixed his research with a rising images profession. In lower than a yr, his work has led to nationwide publication, main commissions {and professional} accreditation.

Ollie has constructed a powerful images portfolio whereas learning for his GCSEs at The Perse. In a comparatively brief time frame, he has moved from photographing domestically to working in skilled sports activities environments and contributing to nationwide publications.

His curiosity in images started after an harm prevented him from collaborating in sport. Encouraged to strive one thing completely different, he began by taking images on his cellphone earlier than utilizing a digicam for the primary time on the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the place his images rapidly obtained robust on-line consideration.

“Initially, some of my photos from RIAT went viral on social media, amassing roughly 500,000 views, and this large-scale feedback on what was my first go with a camera was incredibly motivating to continue what I had been doing. Very quickly I picked up the basics of sports photography and began to work more closely on the intricacies of photography, including my colour and post processing work.”

In the previous yr since beginning images, Ollie has obtained quite a few notable recognitions. He gained the Cambridge Photography Competition, together with his photographs displayed at Cambridge Train Station, and has extra lately been shortlisted for World Young Rugby Photographer of the Year.

Speaking on his shortlisting, Ollie stated, “Rugby is my favourite sport to photograph I’ve played it for as long as I can remember and still play for the U16 As. There’s a physicality and emotion to it that I find endlessly compelling as a subject: relentless action, dynamic movement, collisions, and raw expression all in a single frame. To be recognised in that category specifically means a great deal, especially given the global nature of the award and the fact that this is my first time entering a competition at this level.”

One of Ollie’s proudest accomplishments was being commissioned by The Cricketer journal, the place he had the chance to cowl a full summer season {of professional} cricket. Ollie stated, “It’s a completely different environment to anything else I’ve shot. The photographers I was working alongside are among the best in the world at what they do.”

He added, “What I hadn’t expected was how much it would change me as a photographer, not just behind the camera, but in all the invisible work: the culling, the editing judgment, the captioning, the file management under pressure. Within a few days I had developed more than I had in the preceding months combined.”

“The experience itself is genuinely surreal. The scale of a Test match, the crowd, the atmosphere, the weight of the moments elevate everything you’re shooting, and the photos you come away with reflect that. As a cricket fan first and foremost, it was some of the most extraordinary time I’ve spent doing the two things I love most simultaneously. I’m enormously grateful to have had this opportunity at this stage of my career.”

Alongside his exterior work, Ollie has contributed to images throughout the college, which he credit with serving to his improvement. “The Perse has been incredibly accommodating of my photography journey and has provided many opportunities. The varied nature of the sports played at The Perse has allowed me to build a diverse set of photographic skills while continuing to improve. It was the School that put forward my images from a school cricket game for publication, and that has opened so many doors for me. I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”

Looking forward, he plans to proceed his cricket protection over the summer season, in addition to enterprise documentary images on a college journey to Iceland. He can be working in direction of additional alternatives in editorial and company images.

Congratulations to Ollie on all of his achievements. We look ahead to following his continued progress in images within the years forward.

Published 1 July 2026