The Fans

The Fans explores the people who give sport its voice, colour and atmosphere. While athletes create the action on the field, track or court, it is often the supporters surrounding them who transform a competition into an experience. Their passion becomes part of the story of sport.

As a sports photographer, I find the moments before and around a competition just as fascinating as the event itself. Supporters walking towards a stadium dressed in team colours, families arriving together, friends carrying flags and scarves, or thousands of spectators waiting in anticipation all contribute to the unique atmosphere of a sporting event.

Once the competition begins, emotions become even more visible. Faces in the crowd can change within seconds — from hope and tension to joy, disbelief or disappointment. A winning goal, a missed opportunity or an unexpected result can create reactions that are spontaneous and impossible to repeat.

I particularly enjoy looking for individual stories within a large crowd. A child watching a sporting hero, an elderly supporter who has followed the same club for decades, strangers celebrating together or rival fans sharing a moment of respect can reveal something much broader about our relationship with sport.

Fans also create a strong visual language. Flags, painted faces, scarves, banners and team colours provide endless photographic possibilities. Yet behind all that colour and spectacle, it is the sense of belonging that interests me most.

The Fans is about more than spectators watching a competition. It is about passion, identity and community — and the remarkable way sport can bring thousands of different people together through one shared emotion.

Two excited young girls with face paint and sunglasses celebrating at a crowded event.
Group of people holding colorful protest signs under snowfall.
Four people wearing headbands with colorful decorations peek over a banner featuring a person playing esports or gaming.
Group of people dressed as carrots, taking a selfie.
A man wearing a bicycle helmet decorated with miniature figures of cyclists, trees, and a France sports jersey, smiling with painted stripes on his face.
A man wearing cycling gear and a large rock-shaped hat decorated with miniature figures, flags, and a sign that reads 'CĂUBERG'.
A group of people dressed in green shamrock-themed costumes and helmets, celebrating outdoors, with some holding drinks and making cheerful gestures.
Group of people participating in a protest or rally, holding signs advocating for climate change awareness and action. The setting is outdoors with green trees in the background.
A man with short dark hair is laughing and shirtless, with red lipstick kisses on his chest and the word "LOVE" written in red on his skin.
People wearing colorful winter hats and jackets at an outdoor event, smiling and pointing.
Two people standing at a bus stop in the snow; one holding a sign that says "IT'S HAMMER TIME" and the other looking out from behind a glass window.
A group of eight people standing on an outdoor balcony in cold weather, wearing winter clothing, some with hoods or hats, celebrating or enjoying the snow. Snowfall is visible in the air.
Two people, a woman and a man, dressed in rainy weather gear, are peering through a rain-covered glass or plastic barrier outdoors. The woman, on the left, has curly hair, glasses, and wears a red scarf; the man, on the right, has gray hair, glasses,
A smiling woman wearing glasses and a rain jacket holding a protest sign that reads, 'BOXBOX RAZMO? NON PAS DE DRS JUSTE TOL,' standing outside in rainy weather with trees and a road in the background.
Group of people celebrating outdoors in rainy weather with umbrellas, jumping and smiling, on a wet paved surface near a chain-link fence.
A group of runners celebrating after finishing a race outdoors on a cloudy day, wearing bibs and medals, with some making victory signs and smiling.