10 Sports photographers who changed the playing field

The Head On Exposure Awards aim to showcase alternate forms of photography to the classic Portrait and Landscape categories. They are an opportunity to showcase how diverse and exciting photography can be, and to give a platform to photographers across the globe.

In the spirit of the Exposure Awards, we have highlighted some of the most important sporting photographers and moments across history. Celebrating the people and photos that have changed the photographic landscape and demonstrating just how broad photography can be.

Sports photography is about more than capturing a moment, it’s about telling a story. No one understands this better than Cameron Spencer (Australia), the Getty Images Chief Photographer who ran across several events at the 2016 Rio Olympics to take the iconic photo of Usain Bolt smiling mid 100m sprint race. He has photographed five Olympic Games and countless major sporting events, masterfully capturing the stories that occur within the field.

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Neil Liefer (USA) is arguably the most celebrated sports photographer ever. His shots have defined some of the most significant moments in sporting history, from Muhammad Ali’s victorious stance over Sonny Liston to the iconic image of Sandy Koufax after winning the World Series. His works’ vibrant colour and composition have defined modern sports photography, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Hy Money (England), the UK’s first female sports photographer, is a trailblazing figure in sports photography. When Money first started photographing Crystal Palace FC in the early 1970s, it was illegal for women to have cameras on certain grounds. Fighting against the discrimination that was rife within football culture, she entrenched herself as the Crystal Palace official photographer, with her work detailing an incredible history of the sport, both on and off the field.

Rather than focusing on professional sports, Alain Schroeder (Belgium) examines games within cultural contexts, looking at how the lives of ordinary communities are affected by the sport they play. One such example is his award-winning series Muay Thai Kids, documenting child boxing in Isaan. Though of a far lower standard than professional boxing, these communities rely on income-driven betting to achieve a better life. This focus makes Schroeder’s practice stand out so much; rather than engaging in traditional sport photography, his works tell fascinating stories that illuminate the world around us. Read more here

Barbara McGrady (Australia-Gomeroi/Gamilaraay) focuses on illuminating the Indigenous Australian community and culture. In a unique position as the first Indigenous-accredited NRL/AFL on-field photographer, she has captured the crucial involvement of Indigenous Australians in Australia’s sporting success and culture. Barbara has documented Australia’s sporting landscape for over 30 years and is iconic in Australian photography. She has been included in Head On Photo Festival three times, most recently in 2021 with First Sight.

Tó Mané (Portugal) is a photographer known for capturing surfing at its finest. An addict of surfing and surfing culture since 1988, Mané has photographed waves across Portugal but is best known for his iconic documentation of Garrett McNamara surfing the ‘100 Foot Wave’ in Nazaré. His images highlight the ocean’s power and scale, reducing his subjects to mere dots on giant waves.

Frequently examining rural Australian lifestyles, Glenn Campbell’s (Australia) work forms an intimate record of Australian identity in sport. His image, Last Place at Brunette Downs, emphasises this human connection. Glenn focuses on the races loser, depicting the solo rider surrounded by dust, engulfed by the environment. His work is tender and deeply moving, focused on showing the humanity of athletes. He has been showcased in Paper Tigers, an exhibition celebrating Australia’s most critical photojournalism moments.

Sometimes, a photo is so extraordinary it outlasts the photographer who took it. That is the case with the extraordinary picture of Jesse Owens surrounded by Nazi salutes after winning gold for the long jump. Throughout an iconic day in 1936, Owens would go on to claim 4x gold medals, the most of any Olympian at the Berlin games. The image would go on to become a symbol of Nazi resistance and be reported on across the world.

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Nick Bourdaniotis’ (Australia) close-up images of Greek Australian tennis stars create an intimate portrait of multinational identity among sports professionals. His 2023 exhibition, Grand Slam Stories, highlights precisely this dedication, documenting Greek players and individuals with Greek heritage at the Australian Open. By focusing on specific narratives, he captures powerful images that tell the stories of contemporary Greek heritage within sport. Find out more

The image of Cathy Freeman launching off the blocks in her iconic ‘swift suit’ remains embedded in the minds of Australians to this day. Adam Pretty’s (Australia) photograph has become one of the most notable moments in history, as he captured the sprinter’s historic gold medal win, the first individual gold medal to be won by an Indigenous Australian. To capture the moment, Pretty went onto a stadium catwalk, taking a unique position, before leaning out over the railing without a harness. It is a testament to the power of photography to inspire people and a photographer who went above and beyond to capture the perfect photo.

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