Photography students at Bath College will be working closely with the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association on a new project offering them unique access to two of the world’s fastest sports.
Three students have been chosen to photograph the national team when athletes begin training at the University of Bath in May.
They will have the chance to photograph the training ground, meet athletes, capture the action on the track, and sit in on fitness training sessions.
Their work will count towards an end of year assessment at Bath College and could be used by the team on marketing and promotion materials.
Second year photography student Georgia Puckett is taking part in the project, along with third year photography students Kate Dickinson and Kate Hunter.
The 16-year-old, who is a big sports fan, said: “I’m very excited, it will be a very different experience. I do a lot of motorcross and I enjoy action photography.
“I want to work with teams and clubs as a photographer in the future, so to get this opportunity is fantastic.”
The new partnership between Bath College and the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association could lead to further opportunities, such as a student travelling out with the team to photograph athletes training on ice.
Students will be asked to produce high quality images that could be used for the team’s Instagram account, as well as for banners, flyers and individual athlete websites.
This February, athletes took part in the in 2016 World Championships in Innsbruck and the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, with GB winning medals in both bobsleigh and skeleton in the latter.
It’s possible the group’s work could document the early careers of future Olympic medallists, following in the steps of Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold.
David Merriman, Head of Art and Design at Bath College, is looking forward to seeing the students’ work.
He said: “I’m really pleased that the photography students in our department continue to have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and work on live briefs.
“This venture is particularly exciting as it will provide them with an opportunity to explore some dynamism in their photography and widen their experience of teamwork and travel.
“Our photography tutors will be working with the individual students selected, giving them advice about how to tackle this subject matter.”
Bath College Principal Matt Atkinson said: “At Bath College we have a significant focus on developing the employability skills of our students and this fantastic partnership with the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association will enable our photographers to develop the skills they need to thrive as professionals.”
Richard Parker, CEO of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, added: “We are delighted to team up with Bath College for what should be an exciting project for both parties.
“We are keen to build links with local businesses and institutions and I’m very pleased that we can offer students at Bath College the opportunity to photograph our elite sportsmen and women on their journey to the next Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang in 2018.
“Our sports lend themselves to fantastic action imagery and we hope that the students will learn a lot from this unique experience.”