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Take a video tour through one of Walter Iooss's unique diaries.
Iooss talks with the Newseum about how several of his iconic images came about.
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Sports Illustrated: Athlete
by Walter Iooss
(Hardcover, 256 pages)
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Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss
A photography exhibit featuring highlights from the career of legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr.
On display: Oct. 9 through Dec. 31, 2009
Location: CONCOURSE LEVEL
"Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss" includes some of the greatest names in sports. From classic images of superstars such as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and Michael Phelps, to photos of children playing soccer and stickball, Iooss's work reflects a lifetime of documenting the impulse that connects all athletes: a pure love of the sport.
Iooss (pronounced yose) has been called the "photo laureate of American sports." His photos have appeared on more than 300 Sports Illustrated covers — the most by any photographer.
The exhibit includes more than 40 photos from Iooss's nearly 50-year career, each accompanied by the story behind the image, told in Iooss's own words. He describes his relationship with Michael Jordan, his favorite athlete, and recalls the emotional day he photographed his boyhood hero, Johnny Unitas, whose hand was so damaged by football that he couldn't hold a cup of coffee.
The exhibit includes Iooss's most famous photograph, "The Catch," which captured the last-minute touchdown catch by San Francisco 49ers' receiver Dwight Clark that ended the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl dreams in 1982.
Also included are Iooss's personal diaries, filled with collages of his photos, quirky headlines and his handwritten notes. The exhibit includes an original Newseum-produced video in which Iooss talks about his photos and the bond he forged with his subjects.
Plan your visit and buy your ticket now. And when you come, be sure to visit our Sports Theater to see some of the greatest moments in sports history in the Newseum's 25-minute documentary "Press Box: The History of Sports Reporting."