Hockey ACT: a photo library built over three seasons

Emerging elite athletes in Canberra are working toward national pathway selection and state representation. They're often training at a full load while also working to support themselves.¹ Women's elite sport is growing fast. Deloitte projects global revenue will pass US$3 billion in 2026, up about 26% in a year.² Established programmes now invest in how their athletes are seen. Pathway programmes rarely do. Lyle’s approach is about building that visual record earlier, for the organisation and for the athletes.

Lyle first photographed Hockey ACT rounds in July 2024, volunteering with Livin for Hockey, and is now a Livin for Hockey Ambassador. Hockey ACT first commissioned him in September 2024, for the Capital League One men’s and women’s grand finals on 21 September and the Brophy McKay Awards Night on 27 September. During the 2025 Canberra Chill season it commissioned him to photograph sponsors, VIPs and crowds at home games; he added match photography on his own initiative. In 2026 Hockey ACT engaged him again and expanded his brief to include game footage. This engagement is separate from Hockey One’s arrangements with its match photographers. The library grew over three seasons from that volunteer and commissioned work and Lyle’s own coverage; Hockey ACT did not commission it as a single programme.

Lyle’s professional observation, not a paid Discovery Audit: the existing social media coverage recorded match moments and very little of the programme behind them. Three things were missing. Athletes had no consistent set of portraits to support a selection case. There were no photos made for governance and funding audiences. And nothing linked on-field performance to the club's community, culture and wellbeing work.

Lyle files the photos in one central library, organised in six layers. There are consistent identity portraits, for representing the programme and for each athlete's own professional profile. Pride Round and Reconciliation Round coverage supports community and values reporting. Coaching and support staff photos show the programme behind the athletes. Coverage of both sides of a result keeps a record of wins and losses alike. Livin for Hockey coverage captures athlete wellbeing and club culture. The library built up across the commissioned and self-initiated work described above, rather than as one planned production. Photos from it have since appeared in the published uses shown below.

The photos were delivered ready to use, with all releases in place. Photos from the library have since been used well beyond the home-game brief. The examples are below.