TAKE TEN: Barbara Cole

What happens if you are a sports photographer who are told that you are not able to run anymore? Cape Town-based Barbara Cole faced this predicament but through her resilience came out stronger at the other side. 

Hi Barbara! Please give us a quick introduction to yourself and your photography.

Hi there. I grew up in Cape Town, studied Sports Science at Stellenbosch University and and lived in Durban for a short while, before returning to Cape Town which I now call home.

After working in the global branded sports industry for some 15 years I was retrenched seven years ago, and so my journey as a freelance photographer started. For as long as I can remember I have had a camera and loved taking pictures. I love to spend time outdoors (especially in the mountains) and explore more of our beautiful and diverse country.

What drew you to shooting adventure sports?

I have always participated in sports, especially endurance sports across many disciplines. This includes running, trail running, mountain biking, triathlon, canoeing, and surf ski paddling, so for me it was a natural flow into photographing adventure sports.

Combining my love of the outdoors and sport with creativity and photography was a path that unfolded pretty organically. I knew quite a few event organisers who gave me amazing opportunities to shoot in my early years of photographing sports events. The appeal for me lies in the physical challenge while shooting, as well as the creative one.

What do you believe a good sports photo should consist of?

Personally, I’m drawn to emotion as well as situation – capturing the intensity of a moment and its emotion in terms of struggle, pain, discomfort, joy, relief, and all the different emotions that one would feel.

It often requires the photographer to focus on some very personal and intense moments but capturing them in a way that respects the person as well as the moment in order to evoke an emotional response from the viewer.

Then there’s the environment, whether it’s the vastness and isolation of running in the mountains, riding through the desert, or running through cheering crowds. Capturing that can also be so powerful, which is more about the journey they are on throughout the event.

In 2022 you were told that you could not run anymore. That must have been a blow to your photography too.

Yes, initially it was. Physically there are events that need me to be fit and strong and able to move quickly and for long distances while shooting, so that was really my major concern. I managed to get a second opinion on my initial diagnosis and navigated through that challenge to now be running again. But my main priority is to be fit, strong, and aiming for longevity.

There are still so many events that you can shoot that don’t require you to run 30km on the route to get the shot, so there are other options, and you adjust your approach to things. If there is one thing I know for sure, is that change is inevitable and things do not stay the same, so you adapt.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before? 

That’s a tough question. You navigate things as they unfold and situations at the time help you to grow in the direction you are meant to go in, so you don’t necessarily want to rush that process or the learning curve.

That being said, specific to what I shoot, is choosing gear that can handle low light situations well. I think knowing what your equipment is capable of and how it can help you in certain shooting situations is important.

Another thing not related to equipment but more from a personal growth point of view, is knowing that my unique shooting style is what sets me apart from other photographers. Rather than compare or try to copy other photographers’ styles, it’s to lean into and develop your own shooting style. While it’s good to challenge yourself in different situations, don’t try too hard to push in a direction or style that doesn’t stay true to who you are.

On another front, you may also go through times where the process of photographing feels really hard and it doesn’t flow. Know that you will come out of it, tune into why you love photography in the first place, and be patient.

What Fujifilm camera do you shoot with, and what’s your favourite lens? Do you have a wish list item?

I shoot with an X-T3 and an X-T5 and my favourite lens has consistently been the XF16-55mmF2.8 0 – it’s so versatile and delivers quality images. Wish list items include the X100VI for personal shooting, the new XF16-55mm F2.8 II, the XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6, and another X-T5 to replace my X-T3.

The Cape is blessed with many fine shooting environments and outdoor events. Is there a sporting event you would love to cover anywhere else?

I think it would be something like documenting an adventure race, or an expedition that takes place over a few days in a remote wilderness, locally or internationally. More and more, I like smaller events where you can connect with the people, landscape, and environment to journey with them for a few days.

I’d also love to expand more into social responsibility initiatives or other documentary type projects where my work feels like it has more meaning, for me at least. I hope to draw attention to real issues that are affecting our world and environment in the hope that they might help to effect positive change and awareness in any small way.

Find more of Barbara’s work here:

Website: https://barbaracolephoto.com
Instagram: @barbaracolephotography