Customer Reviews

Sports Illustrated Slide Show

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There has never been a book like this one: a chance to examine the process of selecting and displaying the final images in Sports Illustrated, the fan bible of sports. Many, of not all, of these images have become classics, engraved in our collective imaginations. But how did they attain iconic status? This big (and beautifully designed and produced) collectible volume has a unique conceit: it enlarges the original transparency and its marked-up slide mount to gigantic size, describes what those markings on the mount represent, then shows (and explains) how the image was used on the cover or inside the magazine. Significantly, this book documents a now almost-vanished era; most photographers are now shooting digitally, so there will no longer be a "paper trail" of documentation, with all of its handwritten charm, following a slide's editorial evolution. A great concept, and well-done; this book has provided me with many hours of enjoyment.

A lot of info to digest, but a good book to curl up with and peruse slowly. Lots of good sports history, especially if you are a long-time reader of SI like I am. Also fun to look at how photo-journalism was done in the past, before all of the technology blossomed.

I am not much of a picturebook or coffee table book guy so this was a slight departure for me to pick this up. I was excited because I know how great some of the SI sports photography is.

Upon opening this book, I was immediately dissapointed. Each image is just a photo of the actual slide. The images are all smallish and dont pop. The images try telling more of a story behind some of the great sports moments but I just didnt get into it. I guess I was expecting typical big-format photography. I should have read the details of the book better before ordering. I like the concept behind the book, but it probably would be better as a small format or glosssy paperback.

To top off my dissapointment with the content, the binding of the book tore off from the page glue after scanning through this exactly one time. The book probably deserves 2 or 2 1/2 stars for the true diehards, but the bad publishing quality takes it to one.

Overall, it seemed like poor execution on this one. I returned the product.