Jorge Ferrari

Canon Ambassador Jorge Ferrari is one of the most in-demand photographers in the United Arab Emirates. With an illustrious career spanning three decades, Jorge has covered almost every event imaginable, from news and politics to commercial work and Formula 1 – and he has fired his shutter at some of the biggest sports stars on the planet.

Ever present at the biggest sporting events in the Middle East, Jorge has an enviable reputation. Growing up in Argentina, he was captivated by photography from a young age. "My family have always mainly been involved in journalism, and photography is a great part of that," he explains. "When I was growing up, photography wasn't a university career, so I went into journalism, which I really liked. I was always involved with photo clubs and my mother used to go on her travels and come back with loads of slides, so we'd all sit down together for her slideshow. That's how I got into photography."

Today, Jorge's hugely varied career spans sport, action and commercial work. He is also the official photographer for Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, home of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, as well as the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Dubai Sevens, an annual rugby event. "It's an atypical situation because a lot of photographers specialise in one field and stick to that," he says. "I don't specialise, but I cover a lot of events that happen here in the Gulf region. The fact that they keep calling me year after year and now I'm kind of part of the events – it's a very good gauge on what I do for them."

Among his most famous images is a shot of Roger Federer playing a tennis match against Andre Agassi at the top of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai – one of the tallest hotels in the world. "This photoshoot received massive coverage across the world at a time when social media didn't really exist," says Jorge. "A tennis court was set up on the helipad at the top of the hotel and they played a game of tennis as I was shooting right next to them – it's definitely one of the most exciting shoots I've ever done."

Since moving to the UAE three decades ago, Jorge has covered an impressive number of high-profile sporting events in the region. "I'm very proud of my career in general," he says. "Over the years when I think of all the different athletes and personalities I have photographed, it's amazing.

"Last year, the Dubai Tennis Championships hosted a ceremony celebrating the event's success and they started calling people up to thank them. They called me last and when my name was read out, there was an eruption of cheers and clapping. On a personal level, that was a very touching moment. I felt incredibly valued."

How would you describe your photography style?

"I think I have a style which works across the different disciplines that I cover. I have a way of working that I apply, whatever the sport. Of course, Formula 1 is completely different from football, but the way I approach each event is very similar. There are some parameters that I use and apply for all the disciplines and the result is a style which is unique to me. I find it hard to explain my style, but I know that when people see my images, they say, 'That photo was taken by Jorge.'"


You've shot a huge range of events – do you have a favourite sport to photograph?

"I played rugby in my youth, so I like rugby very much and I love covering that. I like team sports and field sports. Unfortunately, here, I don't do enough, and I'd like to do more. I enjoy all the sports I cover. It's a blessing and a curse to cover so many sports, as I get bored very easily. If I cover a tournament for a month and the days are similar, I get a bit twitchy. My brain is used to being constantly challenged and pushed to do different things."


What would you say are the biggest challenges with the kind of photography you do?

"If you're just starting out, the challenges will be related to having the right equipment. There are always new technologies, new cameras, new lenses, so these challenges are still valid. At this stage of my career, my main challenges are situations related to access. You can be the best photographer in the world, but if you don't have access to where you need to be, you can't do your job."


What's been the most valuable lesson you've learnt during your career?

"I'm from Argentina and we often have a short fuse. But although I can't hide my emotions, if I've had a disagreement with someone at work, I've always fixed it – and we often end up becoming good friends. I've encountered many different people and we all have bad days, but you must remain calm. I would also say it's very important to be patient, and you must always prepare ahead of time for any shoot."


What's next for you? Which ambitions remain unfulfilled?

"I am really content with what I'm doing. Perhaps I would like to expand into the other events which are happening here in the UAE – I don't cover a lot of golf for example. I am also looking more at mentoring. I have teams who work with me, and I observe what they are doing and mentor them. I have grown to love this, and I think my career will take this direction in future – working with small teams and taking on more of a mentoring role."

Jorge Ferrari