Nikon, Getty and NTU join forces to deliver exclusive sports photography masterclass at the Varsity Rugby
2 June 2025
Students on the BA Sports Photography course at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) recently took part in unforgettable masterclass, delivered by world-renowned professionals from Nikon and Getty Images whilst shooting the Varsity Rugby matches hosted at Nottingham Rugby.
On the charge - shot by Marcus Amps-Woodward
The event was the result of ongoing conversations with Laurence Griffiths at Getty Images, Assunta Del Buono, BA Sports Photography course leader, and NTU Sport aimed at providing real-world, high-level experiences to students.
Nikon provided an impressive array of professional equipment for the students, including the flagship Nikon Z9 camera bodies and 400mm F2.8 lenses. With a combined value of around £16,000 each, this industry-standard kit offered students a hands-on experience with equipment of the highest standard.
Take a look:
The Nikon team included Maja Zwolinska, Junior Education Manager, and NPS Senior Consultants Rob Macneice and Jack Fieldhouse.
Representing Getty Images were:
- Laurence Griffiths, Director of Sport Content, Editing and Talent Development at Getty images, with a career spanning over 30 years shooting some of the world’s leading sports competitions.
- Shaun Botterill, the photographer behind the iconic shot of Lionel Messi lifting the world cup trophy which is still the most liked Instagram post of all time.
- Dan Mullan, a multi-award-winning sports photographer who has shot sporting events of the highest level, including the Rugby World Cup.
Assunta Del Buono emphasized the significance of the opportunity:
This was a priceless opportunity. Our students were shooting on kit they could previously only dream of, guided by Laurence, Shaun, and Dan — world-class professionals who generously shared their insight into shooting rugby at the highest level. It was an unforgettable, career-shaping experience.
Assunta Del Buono, BA Sports Photography course leader
Laurence Griffiths highlighted the practical benefits of the masterclass:
“Today is about gaining hands-on experience with amazing kit and photographing a brilliant game of rugby.”
Shaun Botterill added, “What I want the students to take away from today is the fun of the job — it’s hard work, but it’s varied, and you meet amazing people.”
Hosting the masterclass at a Varsity fixture introduced a new dimension to the series. It not only gave our students the enjoyment of watching and competing in sports but also provided them with invaluable, practical, real-world career experience that they can carry into their future careers.
Here are some of the amazing pictures captured by our students on the day:
If you’re interested in studying Sports Photography at NTU, take a look at the course page: Sports Photography BA (Hons) Undergraduate Course | Nottingham Trent University.
Read more sport news
David Ross readies himself ahead of England vs France Students clash
23 May 2025
NTU’s Head of Rugby, David Ross, is currently in camp ready to help the England Students team to victory as they take on France on 24 May.
Key moments and highlights from Notts Varsity 2025
22 May 2025
Term three of the 24/25 academic year saw the conclusion of the Varsity series for 2025. Here’s a look back at some of the best moments from a great series for both athletes and supporters alike.
Sport Awards Roundup 2025
7 May 2025
NTU Sport proudly celebrated another fantastic year of sport at our annual Sports Awards event, hosted at NTSU, on the evening of Tuesday 6 May 2025.