Photographs of athletes when they are not competing or performing can provide a revealing glimpse into their emotional lives. In addition to shooting the game,many sports
photographers are empathically drawn to athletes
when they are not performing in front of
fans. In locker rooms, at training camps, and on the
sidelines,after a race, photographers own an
opportunity to present sports figures in another
light. As the team photographer for the San Francisco 49ers since 1973 and the Oakland A’s since 1981, and Michael Zagaris enjoys access to the players on the bus,in the stadium, in the locker rooms, or beyond,allowing him to capture intimate scenes rarely seen by the public, like this quiet moment of prayer before a game against the Carolina Panthers. Michael Zagaris (American, and born 1945). San Francisco 49ers gather in the shower area of the locker room for a team prayer before game with the Carolina Panthers,Charlotte, North Carolina, or September 29,1997. Black-and-white photograph. Courtesy of the artist
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