Chad Johnson, GQ, 2006

© 2024 Martin Schoeller
Overview
Athletes

Over the past 25+ years, Martin has photographed the world’s top athletes for countless editorials, including Time Magazine, GQ, ESPN, and Out Magazine

I love photographing professional athletes - they are entirely dedicated to their craft, resulting in striking physicality and elegance in their motions. Athletes are ranked and compensated based on their performances alone so often times they are less concerned with how they appear in front of the camera; less vain, less self aware than many actors, politicians, or musicians for example. It makes it easier to capture an off-guard expression. But athletes can be more impatient with the process of a photoshoot - it is not an imperative step to further their careers and the danger of injury is always on the back of their mind." – Martin Schoeller