Nina Fishman ’25 Wins Portrait Photographer of the Year Award

This stunning photo by Nina Fishman ’25 earned her the title of Rugby Journal’s Portrait Photographer of the Year—and her photo will be on display at the World Rugby Museum in Munich.

Since getting her first camera several years ago, Fishman has been an active photographer and began photographing rugby games after joining the team in her sophomore year. Her winning photograph features Max Czekaj ’26 during a game with Montclair State University. The original photo featured Czekaj’s full body while he was in a ruck. Working with her photographer mentors, she opted to zero in on his face and submit the photo in the portrait category.

In late June, her photo was short-listed for the Portrait Photographer of the Year prize. Fishman was unable to make the trip to London for the prize ceremony, but watched the livestream with friends.

“I fully was not expecting to win, so I took a video of them announcing the winner, and it ended up being me, and it was absolutely insane.”