A LOCAL photographer has found himself with a lot more time on his hands at the moment due to the lack of Riverland sport.
Well-known photographer Grant Schwartzkopff would have been the busiest man in the Riverland over the past couple of weekends, with local winter sport getting under way, however that wasn’t to be the case due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Schwartzkopff said it had been a strange feeling without sport over the past few weeks.
“It would have been good to have the first few weeks of Riverland winter sport under way,” he said.
Mr Schwartzkopff said he has been battling to fill what is usually a very busy schedule for him at this time of year.
“I have been watching TV and sneaking out in the mornings and photographing a few sunrises and a few sunsets at night,” he said.
“I have been chasing some eagles as well.
“There is just nothing to do.
“I went for a drive down to Cadell, then back through Waikerie, Mantung, Loxton and then home just for something to do.”
The man affectionately known as ‘Swatty’ said he was saddened by the abrupt end to the summer sport season.
“I’m still in two minds. I know they couldn’t because they weren’t allowed to, but they could have given them the grace of another week to finish off their seasons, because a lot of summer sports were in the same boat,” he said.
“Not just here in the Riverland, but the Barossa as well, they were all finishing up on the same weekend.
“At the end of the day it is what it is and you can’t change it, but it is a bit of a hollow premiership for a lot of people.”
Mr Schwartzkopff said he is “very keen” to get back to taking sports photos as soon as possible.
“It worries me a bit because it normally takes me a while to get into the swing of it,” he said.
“I get the hang of where I’m going and what I’m doing.
“It normally takes a couple of rounds of football to get into the right speed again.
“If I do football after doing baseball or cricket, I feel like I’m a bit slow.
“I’ve got to actually make myself go quicker, because I’m used to staying in one position and clicking for some summer sports.
“I’ve had such a break now I’m a bit worried it might take me the whole season to get back into the swing of things.”
The veteran photographer, who has been covering Riverland sport for the past decade, is expecting fireworks come the resumption of local competitions.
“Everyone will be jumping out of their skin,” he said.
“The sport will be full on.
“It will be no holds barred and people will want to get into the action straight away.
“The first round of any of the sports will be full on.”
Mr Schwartzkopff is hopeful people will appreciate sport even more following the coronavirus pandemic.
“It makes you realise how much sport plays a part in people’s lives up here,” he said.
“When you think about it, it is quite amazing, because without sport people