QPR, and England, supporter focuses on the fans, taking up a camera while following England in the Euros.
“The football photos came about from England hosting the 2020 Euros and attending a few of the games'” says film lighting technician Eldred.
“I didn’t get a ticket for the final so decided to to travel up and just try and capture the energy and atmosphere of the day.
“I feel like these are some of the best Images I have taken and keep trying different techniques and styles as I go.”
“As a teenager I looked up to some of my mates’ older brothers who were casuals. I always liked the clothes and the trainers they were wearing but couldn’t afford them on milk round money.”
Lee Eldred
He’s happy shooting on his Leica Q2. “It only takes black and white images, but I really love the look and quality”.
His love affair with Queens Park Rangers comes from his father. Despite living in Luton as a boy, he would go regularly to Loftus Road and remembers the heady heights of the Les Ferdinand era, and the likes of Ray Wilkins, Ian Holloway and David Bardsley.
“Growing up in Luton made being a QPR fan tricky at school, but once I was old enough I would get to as many games as I could.
“I felt like i was constantly drawn back to London where family were still living. Football was a reminder of where the family were from and where I felt most comfortable.
“As a teenager I looked up to some of my mates’ older brothers who were casuals. I always liked the clothes and the trainers they were wearing but couldn’t afford them on milk round money as well as going to as many QPR games as I could.”
He originally bought a camera to take photos of his daughters Lola and Kitty, who have both caught the QPR bug.
“Its about what you wear and seeing what other people are wearing. I’m a child of the 90’s and the house music scene played a big part of growing up. I think football and dance went hand in hand in the 90s early 00s”.
Lee Eldred
“With a bit of advice from camera crew and stills photographers from work I mainly took portraits of family and friends,” he said.
“Then I started to like taking photos in a fly on the wall style when people aren’t necessarily posing or expecting it. I think you catch people at their best this way.”
His daughters have regularly accompanied him to games. Lola, 16, has other interests now, but Kitty, 12, still goes, “more for the pie and mash and the swearing” says her dad. “She thinks it hilarious when people really get the hump about football!”.
For Lee Eldred, it is all about a day out with family or mates, while also providing an outlet for him to hone his photography skills.
“Football is my release from work because it’s so far away from what I do that you can really switch off.
“Its about what you wear and seeing what other people are wearing. I’m a child of the 90s and the house music scene played a big part of growing up. I think football and dance went hand in hand in the 90s early 00s”.
His love of the game, and the picture opportunities it presents, has given football fan Lee Eldred plenty of scope for a candid fly on the wall photo gallery that provides a snap shot of life among his fellow fans.
You can keep up with Lee by following his Instagram page.
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