Immersion with photographer Bruno Fahy during Belgium – France: “That’s what you need to capture, the emotion!”

Over the years, he has built up quite a reputation in the industry. Particularly with the Red Devils. On the occasion of the upcoming release of his book “Arrêts de jeux”, a sort of commented collection of around 200 photos, we put on a “photo” chasuble to follow him in his work, hour by hour, during the last Belgium – France (1-2, October 14).

How the budgetary restrictions of the Belgian Football Federation impact the national youth teams

15h45

The routine before the road. At his home in Vezin (Andenne, province of Namur), Bruno Fahy checks his set and his bags. Batteries and computer are charged, no lenses are missing. “For a football match, I always bring the same thing. Whether it’s a Devils, D1A or D1B match.” A series of cables, a foldable stool, protection against the rain… Head to the King Baudouin stadium. “Brussels is always complicated with traffic. I like to plan ahead to arrive at least 2 hours before a match.”

5:51 p.m

Like all his accredited colleagues, Bruno Fahy collects his chasuble at the stadium press desk. “The places around the field, behind the advertising boards, are numbered. Each photographer is assigned a position and theoretically cannot move from it.”

This Monday evening will be the 31st for Bruno. “A good place, near the corner post.” His colleague from Belga, Virginie Lefour, will be on the other side. “We cover the entire ground between us. We complement each other.”

20h02

After a small snack and a few discussions between colleagues, it is time to take a seat, carrying around your suitcase of equipment weighing around ten kilos and an equally heavy backpack.

A French photographer grimaces, his internet cable – “Always more reliable than wifi” – is too short. Bruno plays the troubleshooter. He fixes another small connection problem. “I had to shorten this reel. Part of it had been burned by a smoke bomb at the Standard. And we’ve already received beers on the equipment too…”

Being a photographer also means being a bit of a technician. And meteorologist. “We’re lucky, no rain is forecast, smiles Bruno, glancing over the warm-up to avoid an ill-fitting ball. We can still counter the cold with gloves, layers or heating bags, but the rain is our worst enemy. After European Cup matches, I happened to take a flight straight away, still soaked. Fortunately, I’m not very cold…”

20h41

The players take the field. We are as close as possible to the action. After running along the sidelines to immortalize the national anthems and the team photo, Bruno quickly returns to his post. “It’s sometimes a bit of a struggle, especially during big tournaments. But here, it’s quite calm.”

20h45

Kick-off. We feel it, Bruno has entered his match. First duel for Charles De Ketelaere. At 8:46 p.m., the photographer transmits his first photo after a quick crop. They are very quickly available to the various media subscribing to the Belga agency. “Newspaper websites must be able to add photos to their live feed.”

His photos arrive almost instantly on his computer positioned on a small seat just in front of him. When he doesn’t trigger his goals – “a 400 mm and a 70-200 mm” -, Bruno taps on his computer to caption, crop and send his photos.

We note that hearing is essential to detect the beginning of an action. Photographers find their way by noise. “When something is happening at the other end of the field, I know I can look away.”

21h05

At pitch level, Jérémy Doku’s acceleration and liveliness impress. The Belgian winger has already manhandled his defender Lucas Digne.

A few minutes later, Loïs Openda won a penalty. Bruno Fahy is well placed. He has no room for error. Nor to distraction. No second chance, no replay. Tielemans cannons above. On the left, a colleague rails: “But what is he doing?! “. Patriotism resurfaces.

No time to lament, we must understand Tielemans’ dismay. “That’s what you need to capture, the emotion.” This photo will also be published in several daily newspapers.

21h20

After a quick glance at the news sites to discover the photos used, Bruno and his colleagues divert all their lenses, as if magnetized, towards a long balloon. “We know that an aerial duel is often conducive to very beautiful photos.”

In the process, penalty for France, at the other end of the field. His counterpart Vincent Kalut (Photonews), sitting next to him, listens to the match on the radio via an earpiece: “They say it was a foul hand.” Casteels relaxes but takes it.

21h35

Belgium equalizes. Openda’s goal is validated by video assistance after a long moment of uncertainty. “It kills the magic of instantaneous and spontaneous joy, also for photography.”

Luckily, the attacker returns to celebrate his goal a few meters from post 31. It crackles. “You see, in photos, there are no rules. You can tell yourself that he won’t come to celebrate here, and boom, finally he’s here. So much the better!”

Neither one nor two, cropping and sending. “The photo of a goal and the celebration, we know it will be used. A must.”

21h36

Half time. 1-1. Bruno transferred around fifty photos to Belga. He takes the opportunity to share a few photos with his daughter, via WhatsApp. “She loves it, and she taunts me if I did well or not.”

The photographers do not leave their position. They just took advantage of the break to discuss the results of the previous day’s elections or laugh at the disagreement between Belgian and French supporters in the stands, just behind.

21h58

The match resumed 6-7 minutes ago when a crazy French counterattack took shape. “It reminds me of Belgium’s 3-2 goal against Japan at the 2018 World Cup, smiles Bruno. I felt like I was in Olive et Tom with 5 guys running straight at me. You know it can go left, right. Finally Chadli scores, it’s crazy but you have to stay focused. My fear is that the auto-focus will fail.”

22h09

A few meters from the photographers, Kolo Muani rises higher than Theate and deceives Casteels. 1-2 for France. Bruno gets up for a fraction of a second, moves away from a colleague who is a little too far ahead. He machine-guns.

For the rest, the second half is quite poor and takes place mainly in the other half of the field. “One match is not the other. Well, it’s not Seraing – Eupen either (laughs).” The humidity is increasing but the temperatures remain mild.

22h23

The Frenchman Tchouaméni is excluded, he leaves the field with his head down. A scene to absolutely freeze. Bruno returns a salvo.

A strike follows in the Tielemans clouds. Bruno looks up and slaps his thigh in annoyance. The captain is immediately replaced. “Hey, it’s Trossard who inherits the armband”, the two colleagues are surprised. This must be in the box too.

22h40

Additional time. Bruno’s leg taps the ground. “A last-second goal is always possible.” Last moment of concentration. A shot over the top. The Blues supporters, massed behind us, begin the Marseillaise.

22h43

End of the match. The crucial moment to immortalize the joy of some and the disappointment of others. The French players greet their audience while coach Didier Deschamps leans on the advertising board less than 2 meters from Bruno. “Oh hey, I could suggest a new profile picture for him, he jokes. This ends a… calm evening.”

It’s time to fold everything up, dry it, repack it. French colleagues are lodgers: “You’ll win once! You had to do that one. Welcome back!”

1h10

Back home. “Given the lines at the exit of the stadium, there is no point in leaving too early, we will be stuck.” Before starting the hour-long drive home, Bruno sorts through a good dozen more photos, looks at the news sites… and is already preparing to start again the next day at the Diablotins match in Louvain. “On Saturday, I play the Union, and Genk on Sunday“. A busy weekend. As always. “I do about 120 games a season.”

Expected release on November 12

“The most beautiful photo is the one that is sufficient in itself”, we often say in the world of photography. However, those chosen by Bruno Fahy and his editor Chronicle in the book which will be released in bookstores on November 12 will be accompanied by anecdotes transcribed by former journalist David De Myttenaere. Who was also able to collect comments from certain players or coaches who are so often photographed, including Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Axel Witsel, Michel Preud’homme, Philippe Albert, Felice Mazzù and even Thomas Meunier who signed the preface.

Among the approximately 200 photos selected (a difficult choice!), that of the celebration between Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku naturally stood out for the cover.

The book is available for pre-order on the chronica.be website.

Bruno Fahy, “Stoppage time”, Chronica, 184 p. €39.99.