Breaking Into Live Sports Photography: Capturing Libby's Comeback.

Libby Smithson

One of the most rewarding and eye-opening parts of my work lately has been stepping into the world of live sports photography and working with athletes right here in Oxford who are pushing themselves to their limits both physically and mentally.

Recently, I’ve had the chance to work with Libby, a professional cyclist with big ambitions. She’s coming back from a major injury: a fractured pelvis in two places after a freak accident, and is now deep into her recovery, working hard to regain strength and get back into peak condition. Her goal? To compete in the Tour de France next year.

The photos we captured together were taken at a national cycling race held at Castle Combe, a fast and exposed circuit that demands both strength and strategy. It was one of Libby’s first races back after injury, and throughout the event she had to navigate tough crosswinds that made holding position in the bunch a real challenge.

While I’ve spent a lot of time in motorsport, working with athletes like Libby in more traditional sports, whether it's cycling, football, athletics or anything else, is something I want to do a lot more of. There’s so much happening locally in and around Oxford, and I’m keen to meet more athletes with stories to tell at all levels and stages of their journey.

What’s been amazing too is that since working with Libby, more athletes have started reaching out for photos and media support. It’s really exciting to feel that momentum building, like there’s a whole community of driven people doing incredible things in sport, and I get to help tell their stories.

If you’re an athlete in Oxfordshire or nearby and want to document your training, comeback, or preparation for something big, I’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s personal milestones or pro-level goals, I’m here to help capture the process in a way that feels real, motivating, and uniquely yours.

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