What drives you as a photographer?

I’m driven by my genuine love for photography. It gives you an excuse to be curious and get into people’s lives, and it allows me to get involved behind the scenes. As much as I love sports, I’ve always been more interested in getting the shot I want, rather than the result of a game. I also love the competitive element; I always want to be the best, no matter what I’m up against and I put 110% into everything to ensure this.

Do you have a favourite photograph?

The photo that probably inspires me the most is Neil Leifer’s iconic aerial shot, which captures the moment that Muhammad Ali celebrated a momentous win in 1966. For a sport photographer, this is a historic moment you would love to have captured yourself.

My favourite photo that I have taken personally is from the Sweden vs England friendly football match in Stockholm 2012. It was the first historic picture in the new Friends Arena and took me months of negotiation with stadium officials to arrange my camera to be placed within the roof of the grounds. My effort paid off and resulted in a fantastic image of Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring a goal, which won ‘Swedish Picture of the Year’ in the Sports News category.

How long have you used Nikon products for?

I first used a Nikon camera in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. I used the Nikon D3 and it was incredibly impressive; it was the killer camera at the time for professional photographers. In 2009 I decided to switch over to using Nikon cameras exclusively, as the quality was so much better; especially the autofocus and the high ISO capabilities. The NIKKOR lenses are also great for sports photography as they capture those fast movement shots.

What is your favourite Nikon gear and why?

The Nikon D5, the new Nikon flagship DSLR, really excites me. It is faster than previous models and the autofocus is amazing. This really helps in sports photography because you are shooting objects that are moving extremely quickly, and you can’t miss a moment. I’m lucky enough to be a brand ambassador for the Nikon D5, and I feel it’s a great match for me and my field of photography. I’m also really keen to try the new Nikon KeyMission 360 action camera, it would be something really cool to work with!

How do you feel about your new role as Nikon European Ambassador?

I am very excited and honoured to be one of the European Ambassador’s for Nikon; as a photographer, this type of recognition from such an established and respected camera brand is incredible. I was absolutely thrilled to be asked, and to also be an ambassador for the Nikon D5 has made this process even better. I feel privileged to be part of it all.

I hope I can be an inspiration to others and that my personal and individual style inspires other photographers - especially those who love sports photography.

How do you see your role progressing?

I hope to inspire a wider demographic of people, and I believe this prestigious role will help me achieve this. I am very ambitious, so want to push myself to achieve something that hasn’t been done before through the Nikon Ambassador Programme. I’d love to work on an original project, and have become increasingly curious about Cuba in the last few months, so we’ll see!

What are you most excited about for your new role?

I’m excited about a lot of things, but especially the chance to meet new people at events such as Photokina. I want to inspire people and teach them new things; to give them new ideas so that they can go and become great photographers themselves.