LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Andrew Smith has emerged winner of best fan photograph of the year in the IAAF contest. The winning entry is the photograph of Mo Farah at London’s Big Half which impressed the panellists.
Held alongside the Photograph of the Year award for professional photographers, fan photographers were invited to submit their own entries via social media. The four finalists in the contest for professional photographers formed the panel to determine the winner of the contest for fan photographers.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am!” said Smith. “I went to spectate at the Big Half to watch my club-mates from Headington Road Runners. I was stood on the barriers just close to the halfway point and tried to ensure I had a clear view of the moment Mo Farah came round the corner. I took a burst of about 50 photographs to try to catch the perfect image.
“Mo Farah is a hero and an inspiration to me, so to have him in my winning shot makes it even more special,” he added. “I will be competing against him at the 2019 London Marathon, but sadly I don’t think I will be as close to him then as I was this day!”
The judges complimented Smith’s winning image. “He caught the movement well,” they said. “The photo is very sharp with good composition. It’s a nicely framed image.”
Smith will receive travel, accommodation and tickets for two for an IAAF Diamond League meeting of his choice.
