In a gallery of stunning images from around the world, Associated Press photographers showcase the art of sports photography. Some photographers capture the big picture, while others focus on small details.
For example, Laurent Cipriani’s photograph of a three-masted sailing ship arriving in Marseille, France, carrying the Olympic flame from Greece in preparation for the Olympics in Paris captures the larger picture. On the other hand, David J. Phillip’s photograph of a lone worker on the track at Stade de France grabs viewers’ attention with its contrast between the large stadium and the small worker.
Images don’t always have to be clear to make an impact, as demonstrated by Frank Augstein’s photo of blurred fans waving flags before a Champions League semifinal. Another technique that stands out is Morry Gash’s baseball photo taken from an unusual angle just above the batter, capturing the exact moment Matt Carpenter’s bat splintered into pieces.
Matilde Campodonico expertly captured a simple yet dramatic moment as Luis Guilherme of Brazilian club Palmeiras missed a scoring chance and pulled his yellow soccer jersey over his face to hide his disappointment. The gallery was curated by Associated Press photographer Charlie Arbogast, showcasing the diverse and powerful art of sports photography.