Name
Eamonn McCabe
Job title
Freelance photographer and former Guardian picture editor. Four times sports photographer of the year between 1978 and 1984 and news photographer of the year in 1985. Six times picture editor of the year.
How I became interested in photography
Through music, really. Around 1967, that sort of era, I was photographing bands such as Bad Company and The Who. The interest in music was what got me into photography.
First job
I managed to get a job with the physics department at Imperial College, photographing bits of spaceship and the new intake of students. In my spare time I was doing more and more sport and entertainment photography and then went to work on local papers for five years.
Best experience
Working on the locals was the best experience. It gave you a real discipline of providing a steady stream of pictures and working to tight deadlines. My time on the Ham & High (Hampstead and Highgate Express in north west London) in particular was a real education. Also covering the Los Angeles and Moscow Olympics was fascinating.
Worst experience
The Heysel Stadium disaster in 1984. It was a shocking situation to be in. I'd gone out there for the Observer to shoot a football match and all of a sudden I found myself having to take pictures of people dying. You're shooting for a paper and you have to go into a kind of professional drive to get the job done.
Big break
Getting the job on the Observer was a big break. I stayed there for nine years and then went on to be picture editor on the Guardian for 13 years. Training. I've done bits and pieces of courses over the years, including a couple of years of a BA university degree but never joined up the dots. It's not essential but I think if you can get onto a good course with good lecturers then it is definitely worth it.
First salary
I used to get paid £4.10 a picture at the Ham & High.
Mentors and heroes
Irving Penn (American fashion photographer, well known for his celebrity portraits) and Chris Smith of the Observer (sports photographer, four times winner of the sports photographer of the year award) in particular.
Best advice I received
The best advice I received was bad advice that I didn't take. People told me not to put all my eggs in one basket and I ignored them and was right to do so.
Worst advice I received
See above.
My advice to those starting out now
Just to photograph things that you believe in. It's incredibly important to be into your subject matter.
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