On Saturday 29th November 2025 at 11:00am the heavens opened in Bracknell after a very wet night and morning. WhatsApp messages raised severe doubts that the trip to the Bracknell Rugby club, planned two weeks before, was sufficiently attractive to get us out of our houses.  However, 60 minutes later everything seemed much clearer and group-think decided that the trip was on.  In ones and twos, the intrepid BCC photographers gathered on a cold but clear afternoon at the pitch.  Alan Edwards, Gladys Perrier, Sue Green, Jeff Lawrence and Paul Hendley all managed to make it.

Bracknell RFC first XV were playing Wimbledon.  We chatted with the official BRFC photographer who told us that Bracknell had never beaten Wimbledon across many years but that this year the form so far this season suggested they had a good chance of finally winning the game.  He also gave us great information – he starts at 1/1000 sec, auto ISO and f 4 or so using a 400 mm prime lens.  He looks for “impact shots” – in the physical sense rather than the expressive meaning – he likes the way the facial features shift under high deceleration in a tackle!!

In mostly bright but cold conditions, with occasional light showers and a rainbow, I think we all found that this is a very challenging genre – the subjects move fast and can be up close or 40 meters away in seconds.  Clearly the advice to use very fast shutter speeds and rapid fire burst mode was critical because the facial expressions and exact positioning of players change in the sub-second time frame. It also helps to have some understanding of how the game will develop to be able to anticipate the direction the play will move in.  The background is important as always and, with white hoardings at the pavilion end and sundry supporters on the other side of the pitch in colourful clothes, severe post processing removal tools are necessary.

A wide range of images have been shared – and they show an interesting range of intimate “interactions” and medium to long range views.  Both finding separation to simplify the images and getting close-in to show the rough and tumble of the maul and line-out were very successful.  We have since seen the “official photographer’s” images (at https://www.bracknellrugbyclub.com/teams/3100/match-centre/1-17457199/photos ) and lesson 1 is that his placement at the ends of the pitch rather than on the sides obtained far more “face on” shots. 

The match itself was eventful with Wimbledon taking an early 14 point lead before Bracknell nearly drew level at half time.  In the second half, Bracknell overpowered Wimbledon and won comfortably 34 to 26.  As with all photographic trips, the tries were almost all scored in places none of us were close to – just like birds or rutting deer!  

Interestingly, there were also non sports opportunities such as the rainbow, the dog entering the pitch with a Lucozade bottle and ICM shot of seagulls and the rugby posts.  Why not join the Portrait SIG next time they meet – you never know what you might shoot!  If you are attracted to the option of Rugby shots, access at Bracknell is free and you can get close to the action on all sides of the pitch – go to https://www.bracknellrugbyclub.com/ to find out match schedules.