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Photographer marks 45 years at regional daily

A regional daily is celebrating a milestone anniversary of one of its best-known photographers – by sharing his impressive archive in-paper and online with the readers.

The Yorkshire Evening Post is publishing a series of special picture spreads this week – chosen by Steve Riding as he looks back on his 45 years at the publication.

The award-winning photographer, who was quite literally a ‘brother in arms’ with a young reporter called Mark Knopfler, who went on to form Dire Straits, is taking a very apt “walk of life” through his memorable picture album.

His portfolio includes the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings to the 1989 Kegworth air disaster, the Yorkshire Ripper murders, cricketer Geoffrey Boycott’s 100th 100, snooker player Paul Hunter’s funeral and the shocking murder of PC Ian Broadhurst.

One-off . . . the jaw-dropping portfolio of Steve Riding, picted top, which includes this memorable shot above of Leeds United legend Billy Bremner, left

While many of his peers have already retired, the 62-year-old has no desire to give up the job he adores. “I still love taking pictures and I’m just going to keep on going as long as I can,” he said.

“It’s good fun and I’m very fortunate to have spent all my life photographing and meeting all these people that most people never get the chance to.”

Steve stumbled into the profession after a week of work experience at the YEP’s original Albion Street offices in Leeds. He joined the paper as office junior in 1969, sweeping floors, making tea and crucially, helping to develop photographs.

He began accompanying the photographers on jobs and when a vacancy arose he seized the opportunity, combining his work with studying for his photographic journalism qualifications.

He worked alongside then YEP reporter Knopfler – and later snapped the world-famous Dire Straits guitarist when he performed in Leeds.

His career highlights are sporting occasions – he has met and photographed every Leeds United manager from Don Revie onwards – except Brian Clough, his one regret.

He’s also captured Leeds United in the dressing room at Wembley after winning the Charity Shield in 1992 and his rugby league heroes Leeds Rhinos at Wembley after winning the Challenge Cup this summer.

Football fan Steve, who travels the world to watch England when he’s not snapping Leeds’ own professional and amateur teams, has been bringing joy to players and supporters for three decades with his hugely-popular YEP photographic supplement Goals, formerly known as Back of the Net.

He has collected countless awards, including Yorkshire Sports Photographer of the Year, several times at the Johnston Press title.

Apart from his series of picture spreads, you can go to www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk to watch a video of Steve talking about the highlights of his career.

19 comments

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  • October 7, 2014 at 9:19 am
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    Steve has to be one the best characters I’ve had the pleasure to work with. He is a cracking photographer and has captured many excellent images over the last 45 years….he is a Leeds legend ! Congratulations Steve on reaching this milestone.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 9:53 am
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    Steve Riding is a true Leeds hero and it’s a privilege and a pleasure to work with him every day. Here’s to the next 45 years.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 10:33 am
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    I think the value of this photo is not just Billy Bremner, but also the other guy in the shot, one Johan Cruyff, who probably didn’t play against United that often.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 11:41 am
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    Good pal for 25+ years, fantastic photographer and always helpful to subs. Can’t ask for a better colleague than that. Looking forward to seeing you in person again soon Stevie. xx

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  • October 7, 2014 at 12:02 pm
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    One of the first things Steve told me when I was a young junior at the YEP in the mid 1980s was: “Don’t ever tell people: ‘This is my photographer.'” It stuck with me throughout my career!
    He was good fun to work with and I learned a lot about dealing with the public from him and the other snappers there.
    A very proud Yorkshireman too.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 12:22 pm
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    Well done, Steve. That’s some record. I was at that match against Barcelona and remember seeing your picture of Bremner and Cruyff. I was a mere child at the time, of course.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 12:29 pm
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    Steve’s enthusiasm remains infectious, never more so than his tales from Wembley in August when Leeds Rhinos finally won the Challenge Cup final.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 3:31 pm
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    Steve started at the YEP around the same time as me, but I quit after 36 years. To see the ginger one is still going strong is amazing. Great guy to work with. I wish him well for the future. Keep snapping Steve.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 3:57 pm
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    Great to hear a good photographer still in work. In another 30 years papers will be doing spreads looking back on crappy sent in, out of focus, blurred pix.
    Look forward to that.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 4:39 pm
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    A true professional and absolute YEP legend, well done Steve on a great achievement.

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  • October 7, 2014 at 5:46 pm
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    Well done Steve, you are indeed a legend and the midweek football supplement would never have kept going without you for all those years

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  • October 7, 2014 at 9:40 pm
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    You probably won’t remember me Steve, but you helped me back in 1987 when I started my press photography career at the Rothwell Advertiser when the other ‘big time Charlies’ didn’t want to know a young beginner.
    Something I’ll always remember. Congratulations.

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  • October 8, 2014 at 9:44 am
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    An amazing achievement. 45 years! Growing up as a young photographer in West Yorkshire reading my dad’s evening post every night, Steve Riding was the man I wanted to be. He was everywhere in the paper. I now get to work alongside side him. The man is a national treasure.

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  • October 8, 2014 at 1:21 pm
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    Enthusiastic, hard working, talented and with better contacts and ideas about news, sport and features than most reporters, photographers and Picture Editors put together.
    A brilliant ‘character’ who could infuriate you one minute and drag you out of the mire the next.
    Always had a lot of time to chat to Steve, you needed it!.
    Congratulations Steve . Beers on you at The Regent /

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  • October 8, 2014 at 1:50 pm
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    Echoing “snap happy”, it really is good news that an excellent photographer still has a staff job in these uncertain times!

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  • October 9, 2014 at 11:08 pm
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    Steve, you are a legend. Thanks for providing my sports team with so many fantastic pictures… Our non-league Goals supplement simply wouldn’t happen without you… Keep em coming!!!

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  • October 10, 2014 at 2:27 pm
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    A top, top man to work with and a great partner to go on pre-season tour with. I’ll still never forget Sean Gregan’s puzzled look when he said “who do you support mate” and Steve’s deadpan response came “England.” Well done Steve, Fritz, and “Bob”.

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