Sports through the Lens Book: Essays on 25 Iconic Photographs

Winner of the 2025 Anthology Award from the North American Society for Sport History, Sports through the Lens explores the powerful stories behind some of the most influential sports photographs of the past 130 years. Bringing together essays from twenty-five historians, this compelling collection examines how iconic images shape our understanding of athletes, sporting events, and cultural history.

From legendary moments such as Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston to Michael Jordan soaring through the air during the 1988 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, the book revisits famous images while uncovering lesser-known stories from across the sporting world. Essays also highlight groundbreaking moments, including the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon and the inaugural World Indigenous Games .

Spanning sports, eras, and continents, the collection explores the artistry of both athletes and photographers while revealing how the meaning of iconic images evolves over time. Richly illustrated and thoughtfully curated, it offers a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, photography, culture, and history.

Details

• Winner of the 2025 Anthology Award from the North American Society for Sport History
• Features essays by 25 sports historians
• Examines iconic and lesser-known sports photographs from around the world
• Explores the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of sports imagery
• Covers a wide range of sports, athletes, and historic moments

Specifications

• 264 pages
• Dimensions: 7" x 1.4" x 10"
• Includes color and black-and-white photography

A fascinating collection for sports fans, photography enthusiasts, and history readers interested in the stories behind the images that have defined generations of athletic achievement.