Neil Leifer -- Seward Park High School

[CameraQuest]

Today January 6, 2008 there is an excellent and big article about Neil Leifer in the Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-leifer6jan06,1,5336162.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

IF the link does not work after today, you will have to register at the LA Times site to see the article.

"What separates a really good photographer from the ordinary is, when things happen --when you get lucky -- you don't miss," Leifer says. "I didn't miss." Perhaps his most famous shot is Muhammad Ali taunting Sonny Liston on his back in the Lewiston Main 1965 championship fight. So what camera is Leifer pictured with in the article? A 2.8 Rolleiflex TLR.

There are many interesting tidbits. My favorite is about one Times Magazine writer who introduced himself to everyone, including African natives, as "Joe Dokes, Harvard." Mr. Leifer would follow up that introduction with "Neil Leifer -- Seward Park High School."

It is well worth the read. Unfortunately the hard paper copy has some nice images not in the net version.



Stephen

 

[VinceC]

Thanks for sharing the article.
Leifer was for many years a staffer with Sports Illustrated and is probably one of the finest sports photographers ever. He also spent many years on staff for Time-LIFE.

I googled and found his Website, www.neilleifter.com, which includes the Ali-Liston photo, linked below:

 

[nikon_sam]

There's a documentary on sports photographers and it includes this photo and the story of it...the exact pose in this picture was there for a split second and then gone forever...Neil nailed the shot...and if you look closer the photographer between Ali's legs was the top man in those days...he didn't get the shot but was in it...
If by chance you get to see the footage of this fight you'll appreciate the timing on getting this beautiful shot...