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Wayne snaps out of it
WELCOME to Wayne's World – and it's getting wackier by the moment. But then, what would you expect from a much-feted Fylde Coast photographer of 25 years' standing and, er, a former circus bareback rider and cabaret performer? Anchorsholme-based professional lensman Wayne Paulo has never been backwards at projecting himself.
He turned one car, a Citroen C2, into a mobile photographic exhibition, to promote his business, and allied website, GetBetterPictures.com.
The car "wrap" of 40 pictures, spanning two continents, was designed by Wayne's daughter, designer Danielle, a former graduate from Blackpool and the Fylde College.
Now, having quit as official photographer for the National Football League (American football) in America, he plans to pass on tips to younger would-be sports photographers and others.
From superstores to superstars, super bowls and super ships, Wayne's snapped them all.
American football's proved a real labour of love. He's been a freelance photographer for 25 years and spent 21 years chasing the big names of the sport for the shots which get fans talking.
His hall of fame includes American football stars such as Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner. Brad Johnson, Dan Marino and Joe Montana, but includes celebrities Prince, Sir Paul McCartney, Beyonce and Aerosmith plus two American presidents and HM the Queen.
The irony is he's quit just as the game looks like hitting the big time in Britain.
England may have lost footballer David Beckham to Stateside soccer (or at least to sitting several matches out, injured) but American football is heading our way.
The local photographer photographed his first National Football League game 21 years ago.
His pictures of the Chicago Bears v Dallas Cowboys made it big in newspapers and sports fanzines across the world.
His eye for a novel angle, always there at the right time with the right show, established him as official photographer in NFL Europe.
The American football season has just started anew but Wayne stepped down after this year's Super Bowl XLI in Miami. "I felt I was getting a little long in the tooth for the amount of physical work required to cover the sport," he admits.
The Chicago Bears saw him out, albeit crushed by the Indianapolis Colts.
But now the NFL is returning in full force to England. Wayne explains: "The NFL is changing its focus in Europe. Rather than having a minor spring league in Germany, they want to create more of a global impact by bringing the game out of the USA with a regular season in England."
The new international series will launch next month, Sunday, October 28, when the Miami Dolphins take on the New York Giants at London's Wembley Stadium.
Wayne, sad but relieved to end his contract as the exclusive league photographer for NFL Europe this year, said: "It tied me down to long periods, and I was getting to the point of travelling for six months of the year.
"I know it sounds glamorous but it was hard work under pressure to always have every picture – and I mean EVERY picture – requested.
"It's a tough game. To cover it properly you are running all over the place, fully loaded with heavy equipment for a three-hour game.
"Add an hour before and one after and you have five hours of non-stop photography!"
He now proposes to start passing on tips to the would-be sports photographers of tomorrow's world, ideally through sponsorship of lectures closer to home.
"I'd like to talk and show off some of my creative audio visual presentations and complete a long-held ambition, a touring photographic exhibition of my work."
Meantime, Wayne has introduced "enrichment" talks and guest speaking on photography to his portfolio and also goes on tour passing on knowledge and hints to others.
He recently completed a guest lecturer cruise out of Tampa with Royal Caribbean International.
"I got rave reviews from passengers. Talks on how to get better pictures enlightened and encouraged everyone."
Even the music from presentations is created by Wayne, a former cabaret performer with his own recording studio,
He's already produced an interactive DVD "Get the Picture ...Travel" and has a dedicated website for people who just want to learn more about photography, www.waynepaulo.com or visit GetBetterPictures.com.
jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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