SHAUN BOTTERILL ON FOUR DECADES OF WORLD CUP PHOTOGRAPHY

Shaun Botterill has documented the World Cup across a 40-year career, during which photography has undergone substantial technological change. The photographer captured an image that became the most-liked post on Instagram as of the time of recording. Botterill discussed his work with Guardian Australia's picture editor, Carly Earl, in a video interview. His account spans the evolution of the sport's visual documentation from film processing to digital media.

Early in his career, Botterill developed photographs in stadium toilet facilities, reflecting the constraints of on-site darkroom work during World Cup tournaments. The technological infrastructure available to photographers during major sporting events has transformed significantly over his four decades of coverage. Botterill's work has documented not only the matches themselves but also captured moments that resonated widely across social media platforms. His career trajectory illustrates the broader shift in how sports journalism and photography operate.

Botterill's experience offers an account of how photojournalism adapted to digital technology and the internet's emergence as a primary distribution channel for images. His recollections provide perspective on the changing methods used by photographers working at international football tournaments. The video interview, produced by Guardian Australia, documents his reflections on these shifts and their impact on his practice as a sports photographer.