From behind his camera, Roger Sedres has spent more than three decades capturing memorable moments of South Africa’s greatest sport stars.
Through his lens, he has snapped iconic photographs that graced front pages of local and international newspapers, including swimmer Chad le Clos’ epic celebration upon winning Olympic gold at London 2012 and Wayde van Niekerk’s record-breaking sprint in Rio 2016.
But on Sunday 24 August, the tables turned when the Gordon’s Bay local found himself on the other side of the lens, winning the coveted Sport Visual Journalist of the Year award at the 2025 South African Sport Awards.
This is Sedres’ second win at the country’s sporting Oscars – he previously won Photographer of the Year in 2022.
The 56-year-old described this latest recognition as particularly special, emphasising that his work has never been about personal glory. “It’s not about me; it never has been about me. It has always been about capturing moments in our nation’s history; moments documenting people’s lives.”
The humble photographer credits his family’s unwavering support for his success. He acknowledges that while his work brings prestige to their family, they make significant sacrifices to support his passion. His wife, Shireen, daughter Kathrine, son Benjamin, and in-laws enable him to travel globally, capturing pivotal moments in South African sporting history.
He views his success as a means to inspire young photographers, showing them this career path is achievable.
Sedres’ photography interest sparked in high school during the early 1980s, though he initially worked as a clerk in the financial industry.
Lucas Sithole of South Africa in the quad singles first round of the men’s wheelchair tennis during the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games at Roland Garros on Saturday 31 August 2024. Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA Credit: Roger Sedres 
A diver practices his routine from the diving platform on Day 4 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres 
An emotional Tatjana Schoenmaker, now Smith, of South Africa on the winners’ podium after winning the women’s 200 m breaststroke final and setting a new world record at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres 
Nikolai van Huyssteen of South Africa competes in the men’s pole vault on the third day of the athletics programme at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at the Youth Olympic Park Athletics Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2018. Photo: Roger Sedres Credit: Roger Sedres 
South African swimming sensation Chad le Clos after winning gold in the the men’s 200 m butterfly final at London 2012 Olympic Games. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres 
Sprinting sensation Wayde van Niekerk powers his way to Olympic gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres 
A jubilant Caster Semenya holds up the South African flag and celebrates her win in the women’s 800 m final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres 
Team South Africa’s 100 m men’s relay team – Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana, Shaun Maswanganyi and Bayanda Walaza – during the medal ceremony of the Olympic Games at Stade de France in Paris in August 2024. The South Africans won silver in the epic race. Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA Credit: Roger Sedres 
Vincent Leygonie, professional freestyle BMX rider of Team South Africa unpacks and performs some tricks inside the team hotel in Montpellier, France. Photo by Roger Sedres/TeamSA Credit: Roger Sedres 
Bulelwa Simae in the women’s 5 000 m during the Western Province Athletics middle distance meeting at Green Point Athletics Stadium in June 2021. Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images Credit: Roger Sedres
His passion persisted, leading him to study photography at Peninsula Technicon. When lecturers advised him to consider another career path, believing he lacked photographic abilities, Sedres forged ahead, abandoning his studies to pursue his dream.
He emphasises that photography requires dedication and continuous learning. A pivotal moment came in 2006 when Gary Player told him: “My boy, unless you face adversity, you cannot grow.”
This advice reinforced his belief that photography demands hard work and portfolio development rather than expecting opportunities to simply arise.
Sedres describes sports photography as a “niche” artform requiring practise over expensive equipment. “You can run with the same spikes as Usain Bolt, but that doesn’t mean you will be able to win the race,” he explains.
He stresses that skills and practise distinguish successful photographers, not cutting-edge gear. Sports photography’s unique challenge lies in capturing unrepeatable moments – miss the shot, and it’s gone forever. Success requires extensive preparation, understanding weather conditions, strategic positioning, and comprehensive knowledge of the sport being photographed.
He advises aspiring photographers to research thoroughly and understand their subject matter to be positioned correctly for those once-in-a-lifetime shots.
A former sprinter himself, Sedres finds photographing athletics most rewarding. He has documented the careers of sports personalities like Cheslin Kolbe, Handré Pollard and Joseph Dweba from youth to professional levels, creating a visual record of their journeys that becomes part of national sporting history.
Despite challenges, especially since Covid-19, Sedres remains committed to his mission. He views photographing athletes as a privilege, building professional relationships while maintaining boundaries. His ultimate goal transcends personal achievement – he continues documenting stories for future generations.
“It hasn’t been easy, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, but we carry on. For the sake of our children. I will keep on doing what I do best – to tell their stories, because that is what it has always been about. It was never about me.”
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