Sedgefield Ball game

The Ball Game photography

The majority of photography seen of Sedgefield ball game focus' upon the main event which is of men running around the village brawling with each other over the small leather ball in which they have to chase.  Because the event is such a unique event in terms of what it is and in the terms that it only happens once a year, many news reports come to capture the days events.

The game does not tend to be captured by many documentary photographers, maybe because it is so unique it is not known about by many or maybe it is because it is such a tough event to photograph. Either way, this means that the only photography that is really captured on this day is by news reporters, meaning the style of photography is very photojournalistic and is captured to serve only one purpose, to inform people.

As can be seen with one simple google search of the game, the majority of photographs taken appear to be exactly the same. These images which appear on google are taken from several different years and by several different photographers yet they all look cry similar. In a previous post where I researched the photographer Stephen Curry, a slightly different approach to photographing the game or days events can be seen.

Because of this heavy focus upon a more photojournalistic style approach to capturing the days events, I wanted to try and capture the day in a different style. With being from Sedgfield myself and knowing this game and the people who get involved fairly well, I wanted to use this to my advantage and capture not only images of the men playing the actual game but what goes on in the background of the game itself. Whether I was coming to photograph this days events or not, it is an event I would have been attending regardless. With the aim to watch the game myself, social with my friends and cheer on my relatives who are also taking part in the event. I understand the game and have attended it almost every year I have been able to, however I understand that to anyone who is not from this area, it can be an event which is difficult to grasp or understand. With the documentation of this event only really ever being of the men brawling with each other and chasing the ball, and these images only ever really being exposed in the news, to any outsiders who may not be familiar with this game, what the news shows or google searches such as this, are all they can really go on to try and get an understanding.

Throuhg being a local to the village and regular attender of the game however, I understand that there is much more to the game that what photographers or photojournalists seem to portray. While the men fight, the less fit or able who can't take part in the game such as the elderly, young children or often women come to watch the game while socialising by drinking in the local pubs and whiting the game from the side of the road or from the comfort of the pubs. The day really is a day of celebration in the village and it is something so many of the people who live here look forward to every year. 

I therefore wanted to try and capture this in my images as many of the photographers and new reporters who attend the days events do not have the access I do to the locals or culture/ social aspect of the day. Many of the local who I know feel comfortable with me being around them with a camera so I knew this would be a great opportunity to try and capture a more interesting and honest portrayal of the days events from someone who actually live in Sedgefield.