• Eric puts on the Lens Cap

    Eric Whitehead, the doyen of Snooker Photographers, has decided to put the lens cap on for the last time.

    Snooker Images was founded in 1982 and since that time the photographs of Eric Whitehead have set the benchmark for snooker photography at its very best.

    With over 60,000 images in his library, Whitehead has captured every moment, on and off, and sometime under, the table, providing a unique pictorial history of the sport.

    Global Snooker pays tribute to Eric and wishes him all the very best in his future projects, which will involve Christian mission work, partof which involves writing and web evangelism, and working with his wife, inreaching Thai people in the UK.

    Here are just a few of Eric's favourite photos and his explanation of the setting for the pictures.

    "It's not easy to select my favourites, there are so many, but these give a flavour of the type of work I have always tried to capture at the snooker.

    "Action shots are easy, unique action shots are very difficult and take a lot of time sat behind the table.

    "My best shots were nearly always the ones away from the table, which try and capture the reality and atmosphere of snooker.

     

    1: Paul Hunter and Lyndsay, captured with only one shot after he won the B&H Masters, using 'plan B'. This was my most famous and most widely published picture.

     

    2: A very difficult shot from high in the roof of the Preston Guild Hall.

    I had to be very careful that no dust or any other large objects were sent crashing down on to the table. This shot took about half an hour waiting for the player and balls to be in the right position, and my back was killing me, as I was l leaning out over the edge of the walkway in the roof.

     


    3: I saw this shot in Malta by the pool in the venue, it reminded me that as players were preparing for their match, others were also on the flight home.

     

    4: I arrived at the UK Championship in York on the Saturday evening, and rushed into the venue to get some early pictures, just as Ronnie put the towel over his head in his match against Mark King. I Don't think it made the Sunday papers, as it was too late.

     

    5: Steve Davis, in his first UK Championship semi-final for many years, agreed to pose with the Vikings in York.

     

    6:  Jan Verhaas backstage waiting to referee his match. Backstage pics always show the mood and tension which can accompany pre-match preparations.

     

    7: Finally, One of my favourite shots of Ronnie. (never published).

    Despite Eric's retirement from Snooker Photography, all the past images are still available to browse or purchase at www.snookerimages.co.uk until a purchaser if found for the library.

    Please note that all these photographs remain the Copyright property of Eric Whitehead and are not available to download or re-publish.