Leo Mason - Forty years of sporting images and anecdotes

When Leo Mason traded a career in advertising for a shot at becoming a professional photographer in 1974, he set four goals for his new life, declaring that it should be both fun and financially viable; that it must involve travelling the world, meeting interesting people; and that his photography must be just a little better than average. Leo was aiming high, yet in his own words: ‘That’s pretty much how everything worked out.’ Leo’s love for photographing the sporting world’s greatest moments is plain to see – from a surreal experience with Sir Richard Noble’s Thrust 2 team out on the Bonneville Salt Flats and shooting US Open tennis from a never-before-seen overhead viewpoint, to capturing dramatic America’s Cup racing from a helicopter and spending a career-defining week with Muhammad Ali. Not only filled with famous faces from the sporting world, this book is also a visual record of Leo’s creative and technical journey, his transition from film to digital, as well as his recollections of the times spent capturing these moments. He has led an extraordinarily interesting life, as many of the stories and anecdotes behind his images attest. Leo’s passion, craft and creative eye for the unusual are evident on every page, and his hugely significant contribution to the historical sporting record is his enduring legacy. ● A collection of striking images from award-winning photographer Leo Mason’s long career, spanning both film and digital eras and the fascinating stories behind the pictures. ● Jacketed hardback, featuring more than 120 photographs, including a handful of the author’s BTS Polaroids. ● The chapters cover the full spectrum of the sporting world, including Adventure Sports, Olympics, Watersports, Motorsport, Cycling, Tennis, Equestrian, and more. ● Includes iconic photographs of legends such as Muhammad Ali, Diego Maradona, Roger Federer, Usain Bolt, Ayrton Senna, and many more. ● Foreword by two-time Olympic 1500m champion, former Member of Parliament (UK) and current President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe.