A graduate from the BA (Hons) Photography: Editorial and Advertising course at the University of Gloucestershire has taken home the top prize from national sports journalism organisation, the Sports Journalists' Association (SJA).
Freelancer Morgan Harlow's portfolio wowed the judges, securing the prestigious SJA 'Ones to Watch' Young Sports Photographer of the Year Award, beating out competition from across the country.
Two of the images were taken at Sheffield's Ponds Forge, capturing Chinese para-swimmer Weiyi Yuan as he prepared to race, and George Smith from the University of Sterling as he stormed through a 200-metre heat.
Other shots included an aerial angle from a netball match between England and South Africa, as well as a stunning motion shot from the All-England Open Badminton Championships — capturing the focus and drive of athlete Gregoria Mariska Tunjung from Indonesia.
Morgan said: 'I have been overwhelmed by the recognition and lovely comments received from my peers since the awards were announced, which has given me added confidence, and I’m now looking forward to what the rest of the year brings for me.
'My clients now include British Swimming, Swim England and England Netball, with whom I was the official photographer for at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
'It hasn’t been an easy journey, because freelance photography is a very competitive industry, but I really enjoy my work and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.'
Morgan often mentors current students at the University of Gloucestershire; her former course leader, Trudie Ballantyne, said: 'We’re thrilled and extremely proud of Morgan, who is such an inspiration to our current students.
'It's one thing to take such amazing images but it's another knowing how to make her career successful and sustainable. We love her images and the stories she tells not only about her own dedication but that of the athletes she photographs.'
