Uwase Alliah, Usanase Anitha, and Mugisha Dua are three incredible women who are breaking barriers in the field of sports videography and photography. With their keen eye for detail and love for sports, they have managed to capture some of the most awe-inspiring moments in sports history. These women have become trailblazers in the sports industry, paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
Professional photography is one of the fields that is rapidly growing and developing in Rwanda, especially in the sports sector. It is more thrilling to witness more women entering this field which was traditionally considered a male-dominated profession and still has a few female professionals.
While societal norms may currently limit the representation of women in photography, these female professional photographers remain optimistic that this trend will change over time. They are confident that as societal norms evolve and gender barriers are dismantled, more and more women will enter the field of photography.
Uwase Alliah, a female photographer who’s been in the field for 4 years, said the reason why she joined this profession is that it has always been her passion ever since she was young.
She said, “I grew up as a big fan of sports and I wanted to contribute to it by pursuing photography, it’s a nice profession that I encourage other young women to join.”
Uwase recognizes that there are still challenges to overcome such as societal norms that view women who are passionate about sports as non-feminine.
She says “ Challenges will always be there, society takes women who love sports as non-feminine or as women of easy virtue.”
Usanase Anitha Dolton, who is a photographer for Rayon Sports, emphasizes on how photography is such a good career and encourages fellow women to join as it is a career that can sustain you.
She says “ It is a very unusual career for girls, however, if you are brave enough, the job could sustain you.”
Usanase also indicates that during her 6 years in this profession, the biggest challenge she has faced is gaining people’s trust.
She says “ The biggest challenge is not being trusted, and instead of being encouraged, we become discouraged. Some people call us names, which is a shared burden with every female that works in the photography field.”
Overall, these girls say that this career has helped them have a strong focus and passion and remained resilient despite the challenges faced.
They continued saying that this career helps them to always learn new things because of the digital tools they use to change every day and that they have to be at pace every day.
Speaking about the opportunities in sports tourism, Mugisha Dua said, “Sports tourism is a rapidly growing industry, and it’s exciting to be a part of it. By capturing the essence of sports through our work, we are not only promoting the sport but also the destinations where they are played.”
Mugisha added, “Sports tourism is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our work on a global platform. It’s a chance to inspire others to explore different parts of the world while enjoying their favorite sports.”
“Through our work, we can capture the beauty and diversity of different cultures and countries. It’s a great way to promote cross-cultural understanding and showcase the power of sports to bring people together,” she continued.
These women are excellent examples of how passion, talent, and hard work can lead to success in any field. Their dedication to their craft has not only brought them recognition but also paved the way for others to follow. With the opportunities presented by sports tourism, the future looks bright for sports videographers and photographers, and these women are at the forefront of this exciting field.
The rise of sports videography and photography has created a vast array of opportunities in the field of sports tourism.
More and more people are traveling to different parts of the world to witness their favorite sports live and in person. With the rise of social media, the need for quality sports content has also increased, making sports videography and photography an essential aspect of sports tourism.
