Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present

Who is the operative word in the title of this wonderful book on sports photography that serves as a tribute to sports photographers everywhere. Though the names of many of the photographers whose work make up the book are not well known, their images will certainly be familiar to readers: Babe Ruth takes a bow at his final appearance, Ali standing over the fallen Sonny Liston, a portrait of the thoroughbred race horse Secretariat (which later became a postage stamp), and so many others serve as purveyors of pop culture’s collective memory. Yet Buckland (Who Shot Rock & Roll) keeps a steady focus on the people behind the camera with short biographical sketches of each of the 165 photographers whose work, selected on the basis of pictorial merit, is featured in the book. Likewise, the book’s organization divided into themed chapters prioritizes the craft of the photo over its subject. A chapter entitled “The Decisive Moment,” for example, explores the ways in which a photo is organized in order to give its subject power, grace, and form. Other themes include portraiture and vantage point. Buckland writes with such authority that her thoughts on photography, as an art form, and her analysis of individual images in and out of the sports context make this a must-read for pop culture enthusiasts and anyone interested in photography. (July)