Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
Genre: Sports Photography, Photojournalism

Book Review:
''Wills Book of Excellence: Sports Photography 1'' is a treasure trove for sports fans and photography enthusiasts alike. This collection brings together extraordinary images from some of the world's top sports photographers and agencies, capturing moments of drama, triumph, and anguish across multiple sports.

The book's scope is impressively broad. It ranges from off-beat sports captured from unusual angles to iconic images of track athletes, from the power of East German women athletes to the grace of Eastern Bloc gymnasts. Cricket receives substantial attention, featuring master batsmen, ingenious spinners from the subcontinent, and powerful West Indian pacemen. Tennis stars from America, Australia, and Sweden appear, and the collection concludes with winter sports athletes.

What makes this book valuable is the quality of its sources. The photographers and agencies represented—All Sport, Hulton Picture Company, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Sport and General, Professional Sport, Tommy Hindley, Patrick Eagar, and Mark Shearman—represent the pinnacle of sports photography. Their work captures not just action but emotion, not just victory but the full human experience of sport.

The inclusion of informative text and lively captions adds context, helping readers understand what they're seeing and why it matters. The photographs alone would be worthwhile; the text enhances their value.

For Sri Lankan readers, the substantial cricket section is particularly appealing. Patrick Eagar's presence among the photographers ensures high-quality cricket images. The coverage of subcontinental spinners acknowledges the region's cricket heritage.

At Rs. 150, this book was remarkably affordable for such high-quality content—a testament to Orient Longman's commitment to accessible publishing.

The main limitation is that this is ''Volume 1,'' suggesting there's more to come—but the provided images don't indicate whether subsequent volumes appeared.

Overall, ''Sports Photography 1'' is a wonderful collection that belongs in the library of any sports fan. Its images capture why we love sports: the drama, the beauty, the agony, the ecstasy. Highly recommended for photography enthusiasts and sports lovers alike.