Esports News UK’s Alex Wright interviewed British esports photographer Joe Brady earlier this year, ahead of his win at the Esports Industry Awards.
Alex also asked Joe about his community Blackout Gaming and what he got up to at Multiplay Insomnia61.
On starting up Blackout Gaming
“We started Blackout Gaming as a bit of fun less than a year ago,” Joe says. “There was nine of us at the last Insomnia and now there was almost 40 of us at i61.
“We’re not really a team as such, we’re more of a community of friends who play games together and jump on Discord in the evening. Every Monday we have a Counter-Strike community tournament, we have eight teams and it all gets cast and streamed.
“Different people help out and cast, they jump in – it’s just a bit of fun really. Friends tell their friends about it, and it kind of snowballs, and I guess that’s how we’ve grown so quickly. We have about 600 members in our Discord now.
“Entered Overwatch and CSGO tournament at i61, we came sixth in Overwatch and one of the two CSGO teams finished in the top ten.”
“I’m the only UK esports photographer nominated for Esports Photographer of the Year. To be put in a shortlist of incredible photographers is pretty great.”
On being up for an Esports Industry Award
“I’ve been nominated for the second year in a row now for Esports Photographer of the Year, which is obviously a huge honour because I take pictures of people playing video games!” Joe commented.
“I’m the only UK esports photographer nominated. To be nominated and put in a shortlist of incredible photographers is pretty great.”
UPDATE (November 2017): On winning the award
Completely blown away by all the kind words I’ve received after winning Esports Photographer of the Year! Thank you all so much, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Last night will stay with me forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ioILps8twG
— Joe Brady (@joebradyphoto) November 14, 2017
Joe’s most memorable moments in esports photography
“Shooting Intel Extreme Masters in Katowice in 2016,” Joe explains. “That was incredible, just seeing Counter-Strike and StarCraft in a huge arena with thousands of screaming fans. Shooting in that atmosphere was incredible.
“Also, becoming the first UK esports photographer to be hired and shoot an event in America. One event was in Atlantic City and one was in Vegas – they were Gears of War events for Xbox/Microsoft. They were a lot of fun to shoot.
“The players get so hyped, shouting at each other, it makes my job easy.
“I can only shoot in front of me. If people are being boring, sitting doing nothing, what can I do with that?”
“When players get so hyped, it makes my job easy. I can only shoot in front of me. If people are being boring, sitting doing nothing, what can I do with that?”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
