ICONIC IMAGE - LADIES' SINGLES FINAL
As The Championships’ photographic manager, Bob Martin appreciates the finer details of the images which every day capture the essence of Wimbledon. In this series celebrating the best of the AELTC’s talent behind the lens, he nominates his picture of the day 2018.
ANGELIQUE KERBER AND SERENA WILLIAMS:
CHAMPIONS AND FRIENDS
The aptness of Rudyard Kipling’s poem If never fails to resonate at Wimbledon.
The first two lines - "If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same" - are posted above the entrance to Centre Court for players to read as they prepare to play, and the most emotional moments of a Championships always emanate from cameos of true sportsmanship, graciousness in defeat, humility in victory.
This photograph captures the spirit perfectly as Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams embrace at the end of the ladies' singles final where much had been at stake for both.
“This is a fantastic example of what we’re here to do: capture the keys moments of The Championships with a fresh eye and a different perspective,” says Bob. “Here Ben Queenborough shoots through the jubilant crowd as they jump up to salute Angelique Kerber’s achievement in beating Serena Williams, and captures a really intimate moment that shows respect and affection between two champions and friends. The patch of grass on the left-hand side of the frame, created by the silhouettes of the spectators, makes this picture. I like the way Ben’s shot a little wider to record context and atmosphere, rather than zoom in on the players. It’s well composed.”
Ben was on a roving brief for the ladies’ singles final. “I wasn’t sitting in an assigned photographer’s position, but walking around the Centre Court walkways, popping up in gangways where the service stewards stand,” he explains.
“Shooting through the crowd like this either works or it really doesn’t!
"I was lucky the match ended with the players at my end. There is no crowd visible at the top of the shot, so you get this slightly voyeuristic view, one that will resonate with ticket-holders lucky to be on Centre Court. With just a suggestion of the crowd in the foreground, this photograph offers a glimpse of what it was like to be there for this intimate moment between two players on a very public stage.”
Technical info: This image was shot at 5.21pm on a Canon camera using a 70-200mm lens set at 170mm, with a shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second, with a F4 aperture and a sensitivity setting of 200 ASA.
