Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category
April 29th, 2013 by Emily Dimozantos
Imagine a normal weekend where you head out on the Mountain Biking (MTB) trails with your mates to get some fresh air, exercise, just loving being out there doing something that you were passionate about and to have fun.
In late 2008, this was Andrew Liddawi’s weekend. He was a relatively new, but keen mountain biker heading out on the trails in a well known MTB area in Queensland. From how Andrew tells the story, the day was a pretty unremarkable one. They had been hitting some pretty sweet dirt along the way and were moving forward to some more challenging parts of the trails.
Unfortunately this is where things didn’t go to plan and what happened next resulted in Andrew being permanently and completely paralysed from the waist down.
Like all the wheelchair athletes I work with, Andrew is so upbeat and positive and he is very quick to point out that he HATES the word impossible. I don’t blame him.
He is out to show people that just because you are in a wheelchair or carry a disability of some description that it doesn’t mean you can’t be out there being active. As a regular member of the Perth Wheelcats Wheelchair Basketball team Andrew is already quite active but he has an outstanding goal to achieve.
Earlier this year Andrew launched his new website Break the Boundary which has the vision “To help people with physical disabilities go beyond flat surfaces, out of their comfort zone, and into off-road areas around Australia which they thought were inaccessible.”
Andrew’s goal is to get back out there and finish that trail with his mates and is intending to do so on a custom-made off-road handcycle.
What is even more exciting about this is that Andrew is going to be one of the first Aussies with a disability to take ownership of one of these bikes giving him the ability to bring this new-to-disabilities sport to others.
I am also honoured to be involved in photographing this unbelievable feat when he does go back to the trail and beat it down on his new toy with his mates. That full story will come later in the year, but for the meantime I managed to sneak a few pics of Andrew on the trails around his home.
If you wish to support Andrew in raising funds for his cause please head to his website.
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Posted in Adventure, Athlete Profile, Blog, Inspiration, MTB, Sports | No Comments »
August 30th, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
The fab group at Wheelchair Sports WA recently ran a series of wheelchair tennis training sessions at the Herb Graham Centre in Mirrabooka.
These training sessions resulted in a doubles tournament being played at the State Tennis Centre in
Burswood on Thursday 23rd of August. Organised and run by the team at Tennis West, four very competitive doubles pairs took to the courts to prove who had the moves on the court.
Despite the fact that they *say* they had been practicing up until the tournament there were a lot of laughs as kamikaze balls flew around and team communications broke down…..note to Adam and Georgia: don’t play on a team with your “real” partner!!
In the end the partnership of Kim Robins and Sam Clarke ruled the night, taking out what is to become the Annual Trophy in the finals match against Adam Deans and Georgia Inglis. Special mention from me goes to Jake Kavanaugh who I could swear believed I had a target on the top of my camera 
If you are interested in having a go at wheelchair tennis the next session begins in November and is open to all – yes including able-bodied. Contact Lindal at Wheelchair Sports WA; lindal@wheelchairsportswa.org.au
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: 2012, action, Adam Deans, Burswood Tennis Centre, Emily Dimozantos, Georgia Inglis, Jake Kavanaugh, Joel McKenzie, Kim Robins, Photography, Sam Clark, Sports, Tennis West, Western Australia, Wheelchair Sports WA, wheelchair tennis
Posted in Blog, Photography, Sports | No Comments »
August 9th, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
Tomorrow morning, Friday 10th of August, at 05:15pm West Australian time (I am totally hoping I have time-converted properly!!), Perth Olympic athletes Jesse Phillips and Steve Bird will compete in their first Olympics when they take to the water at Eton Dorney competing in the K2 Sprint Kayak event.
Over the months leading up to the Olympics I have had the pleasure of getting to know both Jesse and Steve, working with them in studio and in their river environment here in Perth. I can only say nice things about these guys. They are the guys that are just outright, all round good guys, not to mention awesome models – just ask them!! They deserve nothing but success in London and I will be awake and cheering them on tomorrow morning, sending all the vibes and energy I have towards them, as I know their support base in Perth and other places will be.
Earlier in the week, while watching the men’s 100m sprint, I noticed that they all had a “pose” that they struck when introduced. I mentioned this to Jesse earlier this week and that I expect nothing less from them. Well guys, let me help you out there…….Good Luck!!!!!
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: 2012, Emily Dimozantos, Helly Hansen, Jesse Phillips, K2, Kayak, London2012, Olympics, Perth, Photography, Sports, Sprint Kayaking, Steve Bird, WAIS
Posted in Athlete Profile, Blog, Portraits, Sports | 1 Comment »
April 12th, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
Last year I had the good fortune to be put in contact with an amazing athlete by the name of Jesse Phillips. Jesse is a West Australian born athlete who has etched his sporting career as a sprint kayaker, and a damn good one at that!!! Jesse and his kayak doubles partner Steve Bird have just qualified for their first Olympics and will be joining the rest of the Australian Olympic team in London.
On a sporting level, Jesse currently trains at the WA Institute of Sport, dividing his time between the gym and the Swan River. One could probably surmise that Jesse “fell” into Kayaking back in 1999 when he was chosen to take part in a physical testing day run by the WAIS. Successfully completing the testing, Jesse was streamed into Sprint Kayak Racing where he made a splash (sorry – I know – but do you really expect anything else!!!!) competing in some of the worlds tops Sprint Kayak competitions.
As talented as he is on the water, Jesse also found talent on the stage and has performed in a number of Perth-based theatre shows, musicals, cabarets, films and television commercials. This creativity has been welcomed in our work together as he is very aware of artistic ideas and nuances.
Working with Jesse the past 6-ish months have been a bit of a dream really. He is very personable, down to earth and willing to give anything artistic a go. As a photographer, being given that type of licence is pretty amazing, especially by an elite athlete. One thing that struck me immediately upon meeting him though was his determination and focus – something that I feel is reflected in the top photo. Jesse has this positive aura around him that just affects others in his vicinity. AND I know you girls out there are wondering….yes it is really, really difficult photographing him
I am looking forward to continuing to work with Jesse and I definitely look forward to cheering him and Steve on in London!!!
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: Jesse Phillips, Sprint Kayaking, WAIS
Posted in Athlete Profile, Blog, Inspiration, Sports, Sports and Action | 1 Comment »
February 6th, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
It seems I have caused a bit of a stir amongst the sports journalists here in Dhaka with my coverage of hurdler Sumita Rani. On Saturday I was met by sports reporters and photographers at the Banglabandhu National Stadium following the opening of “Convergence”, the collaborative exhibition between Edith Cowan University and Pathshala South Asian Media College.
What was most amazing to see was that there was an increased interest in Sumita and her athletics colleagues, with the journos sticking around for part of their training.
Here is the article from the Dhaka Daily Sun.
PS – I have a feeling they may have done me a favour by photoshopping my black eye
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: Banglabandhu National Stadium, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Dhaka Daily Sun, Emily Dimozantos, Photography, Sports, Sumita Rani
Posted in Articles, Blog, Photography, Sports | 3 Comments »
January 22nd, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
Photographically Bangladesh is an absolute wonderland! Naturally I was always going to focus on sport of some description. Initially it was difficult to get past the Bangladeshi’s love of cricket, which is literally EVERYWHERE!!!
Some good fortune led me to the Bangladesh Olympic Commission (BOC) who introduced me to two very special people that I feel very honoured to be working with; Bangladesh National Hurdler Sumita Rani and her coach Mahabuba Iqbal Belly (Belly).
Being an athlete in Bangladesh is hard. It is even more of a challenge being a female athlete and female coach. I have been told the stories of some amazing female athletes who have trailblazed in Bangladesh, however sport in all forms in the country is still very much overwhelmed with males.
Sumita is the current Bangladesh record holder for the 100m Hurdles. The youngest daughter from a family of 7, Sumita is a true inspiration. With so many people living in one small country, there are limited funds available to elite athletes and the training facilities for these elite athletes are extremely basic compared to those I have experienced in Australia and the USA. Despite these limitations Coach Belly adapts what equipment they have to ensure Sumita trains hard – something I have personally been witnessing. She is extremely focussed and I don’t know that I have met someone who is more determined to make their mark.
Both Belly and Sumita have dreams and goals to train together somewhere like Australia where they have access to the best training facilities and where Sumita’s abilities can be developed and taken that one step further. From what I have seen in the past week, I don’t doubt that their hopes will come true!
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler heading to training at Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh.
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler preparing for training drills at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh.
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler participating in training drills at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh.
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler participating in training drills at the Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh.
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler relaxing in her room at the National Sports Council Building.
Sumita Rani, Bangladesh National Hurdler taking time out with her Coach Mahabuba Iqbal Belly
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: action, Action Photographer, Action Photography, Athletics, Bangabandhu Stadium, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Olympic Commission, Emily Dimozantos, Hurdler, Inspirational Photography, Mahabuba Iqbal Belly, National Sports Council Bangladesh, Sport Photographer, Sport Photography, Sports, Sumita Rani
Posted in Athlete Profile, Blog, Inspiration, Sports | No Comments »
January 15th, 2012 by Emily Dimozantos
I’m still learning. I’m sure I will be for the rest of my photographic career!! For this reason it is so, so important to surround yourself with people who are like-minded, who have experience in your chosen stream and most of all that you trust. Its hard not to get caught up in the romanticism of being in a place like Bangladesh. The people here are so open to letting you into their lives and homes and the opportunities for stories seem to be everywhere.
I had to use my support network this week to be objective for me. This is not something that comes easily to me and I had to think very carefully about everything that both these people said to me to come to the decision I did. A fantastic opportunity came about to photographically report on a group of Bangladeshi people who are cycling around Bangladesh. The crux of it was that I was going to join them and cycle with them as well, documenting their story along the way.
Aside from some technical difficulties with this method, they happened to be travelling through the one area of Bangladesh where it is strongly recommended for tourists not to go due to tribes warring. There have been cases of tourist kidnappings in the area as well…Mum and Dad keep reading before freaking out.
I was so excited and thrilled to have this opportunity that in my excitement I stopped listening to people around me and became more determined to just do it.
Enter my friends, photography colleagues and adopted guidance counsellors (for that moment in time anyway!!) Delly Carr and Russell Ord. Both of these amazing and experienced sports photographers were able to objectively give me reasons as to why it was not in my best interest to follow the story on this occasion. My decision was made – I am staying in Dhaka to cover a different story.
Essentially, this blog is to thank both of them for their support and objectivity and to point out the importance of having people to bounce ideas off. It doesn’t matter what stage you are at with your career you can always use help.
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: action, Delly Carr, Emily Dimozantos, Russell Ord, Sports, sports photography
Posted in Blog, Discussion, Sports | 1 Comment »
September 5th, 2011 by Emily Dimozantos
It has been an awesome week in The Grampians, Victoria! Today was the grand finale shoot assisting Keith Ladzinski. My task was to set up my baby – my Nikon 200mm F2 – and shoot/video back across the Taipan wall at Pro Rock Climber/Boulderer Nalle Hukkataival.
The hikes to location have been brutal this week but today I added the extra 6-ishkgs of my favourite lens. Now, it wasn’t enough to just video the climb with the 200mm……..check out my set-up below
What you are looking at is a Sony Nex-5, connected to a LensBaby, connected to a TCE-20EII Teleconverter to my Nikon 200mm F2. This gave me around an 800mm lens. Sweet huh!!
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Tags: action, Adventure, bouldering, Emily Dimozantos, Inspirational Photography, Keith Ladzinski, Nalle Hukkataival, nikon, Rock Climbing, sony nex-5, Sports, The Grampians, Victoria
Posted in Adventure, Blog, Gadgets, Photography, Sports | 2 Comments »
August 29th, 2011 by Emily Dimozantos
I am so excited that Iroman has just announced a new race in Melbourne. The inaugural race will be held on the 25th of March and I am totally psyched to be heading into the beautiful southern city photograph it with Finisherpix.
The event shows that Australians truly must be an insane bunch – the registration for the event set a new Ironman record – entries sold out in 5mins, 5secs!! Go you Aussies!!!
Read about the record here
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Posted by Emily Dimozantos Posted in Adventure, Blog, Inspiration, Sports | No Comments »
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