IN less than two thousands of a second, Dylan Burns can capture the pure elation, strength, determination or heartbreak in a sporting moment. The passion is what drives Burns to keep fine-tuning his own game.
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Now, The Courier and The Advocate photographer will have his chance on the Olympic stage. Burns has been selected as one of six photographers worldwide under the International Olympic Committee’s young reporters programme for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in October.
The intense three-week experience will include lessons in covering major sporting events across media platforms and a chance to be mentored by some of the world’s most decorated sports photographers, led by the multi-award winning Bob Martin. Photographers will then be out in the field with the Olympic Information Service team covering the Games’ action.
- Check out a snapshot of Dylan Burns’ portfolio that impressed IOC scouts below
Burns said the call-up was a little surreal but a truly amazing feeling.
“For me, I know I’ll learn a lot, but it’s a chance to build on connections with those photographers, to really pick their brains,” Burns said. “Hopefully after the three weeks they might continue to mentor me – that would be gold.”
Getty Images sports photographer prompted Burns to apply for the IOC programme, which is aimed for established working photographers aged between 18 and 24. Burns applied a few months ago and had thought he had missed out until finding a series of missed calls and messages on his phone at 5am earlier this week.
A little emotional, Burns said the hardest part was that it was too early to share the news with family.
Burns took up had his first taste of photography in year nine work experience with a week at NL Harvey and Sons in Sturt Street. From there, the business helped link Burns up with The Courier where he took up work experience in years 10 and 11.
Burn became The Courier’s first photography apprentice under the Victorian Certificate for Applied Learning, working one day a week for the newspaper during his year 12, before picking up a job in The Courier’s photography department in news, sport and working with The Advocate in Hepburn.
“Sport has always been my passion but it wasn’t until I really shot it for The Courier that I knew this was the path I really wanted to follow,” Burns said.
Shooting AFL has been a big career deal for Burns. But it was Ballarat Miners’ South East Australian Basketball League conference final loss in overtime last year that sticks out most for Burns.
“All the emotion after the game, the guys upset and Davon Usher covering his head with a towel, that was definitely a memorable moment for me,” Burns said.