Best Sports Photography Books of 2025
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Sports photography books are a must-have for any sports enthusiast or photography lover. These books showcase the beauty and excitement of sports through stunning photographs captured by some of the world's best photographers. From action-packed shots of athletes in motion to behind-the-scenes glimpses of the sports world, these books offer a unique perspective on the world of sports. Whether you're a fan of basketball, football, soccer, or any other sport, there's a sports photography book out there that will capture your imagination and inspire you to take your own amazing sports photographs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Sports Photography Books
Remarkable Golf Courses
Remarkable Golf Courses is a stunning collection of the world's most unique and extraordinary golf courses. From the highest course in Bolivia to the lowest in Death Valley, USA, this book covers the extremes of the sport. It features courses with neolithic standing stones, Roman roads, and ruined medieval castles alongside the old temples of Delhi. The book also includes some beloved classic courses like St. Andrews and Carnoustie, and spectacular courses hewn out of the Nevada and Arizona desert. Spragg's storytelling, combined with extraordinary photography, makes this book a must-read for golf enthusiasts and photography lovers alike.
Sports Illustrated The New York Mets: Celebrating Six Decades of Amazin' Baseball
The New York Mets' 60-year history is celebrated in Sports Illustrated's book, The New York Mets at 60. This commemorative book features classic stories and photographs from the pages of SI, showcasing the championship glory, Hall of Fame personalities, and passionate fans that make the Mets one of the most historic franchises in baseball. From the World Series teams of 1969 and 1972 to legendary stars like Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver, Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza, and David Wright, fans will enjoy reliving countless gems from the Mets' past on each page. Overall, this book is a must-have for any Mets fan and a great addition to any baseball book collection.
Golf: The Ultimate Book
Golf enthusiasts and those who want to become one will find Golf: The Ultimate Book the perfect gift. This book presents the most exclusive, sophisticated, and spectacular golf resorts in the world, with expert reviews covering their benefits on and off the fairways and greens. It also includes background information and amusing anecdotes, capturing the history and contemporary world of golfing. This volume is unique, with its comprehensive wellness offers, outstanding food, and wonderful rooms, making it a must-read for sports photography book lovers. Text in English and German.
Surfer Magazine: 1960-2020
The anthology of Surfer Magazine from 1960-2020 is a must-have for surf enthusiasts and those interested in the history and culture of the sport. The book features a carefully curated collection of the magazine's best covers and interior pages, showcasing the progression of surfing, gear, style, and top surfers throughout the decades. Written by award-winning journalists and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, the book offers insight into the world of surfing through the lens of the longest continuously published surf magazine. This book is a unique and valuable reference guide to modern-day surfing and its highly influential subculture.
Formula One: The Pursuit of Speed: A Photographic Celebration of F1's Greatest Moments (Volume 1) (Formula One, 1)
Formula One: The Pursuit of Speed: A Photographic Celebration of F1's Greatest Moments is a stunning coffee table book that captures the intensity and beauty of the sport. The book covers the best of Formula 1 motor racing from the 1950s to the present, featuring behind-the-scenes shots, beautiful portraits of the drivers, and atmospheric shots of the racing in action. The book is structured around three sections: Drivers and Rivalries, Teams and Cars, and Tragedy and Triumph of the Circuits, and each section is introduced with vivid essays by F1 correspondent Maurice Hamilton. Overall, this beautifully written book will appeal to fans of classic and modern F1 alike and is a must-have for any motorsport enthusiast.
Vintage Skiing: Nostalgic Images from the Golden Age of Skiing
Vintage Skiing: Nostalgic Images from the Golden Age of Skiing is a captivating book that takes readers on a visual journey through the history of skiing. With over 75 stunning black and white photographs by renowned ski photographer Ray Atkeson, the book captures the beauty and excitement of skiing in its early days. Atkeson's pioneering work in ski photography is showcased in this book, making it a must-read for ski enthusiasts and photography lovers alike. This book is a perfect addition to any coffee table or bookshelf, and it is a great gift for anyone who loves skiing or photography.
Surfing: 1778-Today
This comprehensive visual history of surfing is a major cultural event as much as a publication. It charts the evolution of surfing from the first recorded European contact in 1778 to the global phenomenon of today, utilizing institutions, collections, and photographic archives from around the world. The book contains hundreds of images and five chronological chapters, celebrating surfing as a sport, a lifestyle, and a philosophy. Accompanied by essays from top surf journalists, it is a must-have for any serious player on the surfing scene and anybody who aspires to the surfing lifestyle. Overall, this book is an unrivaled tribute to the breadth, complexity, and richness of surfing.
The History of Tennis: Legendary Champions. Magical Moments
The "History of Tennis: Legendary Champions. Magical Moments." is a comprehensive and up-to-date book that captures the passion, drama, and beauty of tennis. The book covers the sport's long history, from its early beginnings as a European royal pastime to its global star players and personalities of present day. With 500 color and black-and-white photographs, the book breaks down the history by decade, with special chapters devoted to such subjects as the birth of WTA and the Williams sisters. Richard Evans's intriguing stories and unique insight detailing the evolution of this majestic sport makes it a must-have volume for lifelong fans and those intrigued by the sporting theater and grand culture of tennis.
Ballparks: Baseball’s Stadiums - Home to America’s National Pastime
Ballparks: Baseball's Stadiums - Home to America's National Pastime is a must-read for all baseball lovers. The book takes readers on a tour of each of the 30 current stadiums in the major league as of 2022, divided into American and National League sections. The book features stunning photography from high above, outside, and within the walls of America's cathedrals of baseball. Accompanying each stadium spread are fun facts, stats, and famous firsts for every stadium. Overall, Ballparks is an informative and entertaining read that beautifully captures the essence of baseball's stadiums.
1000 Skateboards
1000 Skateboards is a definitive collection of the world's most iconic skateboard designs, complete with history, engineering, collectability, sports, and pop culture trivia. The book profiles 1,000 boards from old-school classics to the latest innovations, covering over seventy years of brands and designers. Broken down into categories based on deck shape and neck size, as well as individual brands, uses, and skill levels, this is a must-have for diehard fans and a perfect introduction for anyone just getting into skateboard culture. Mackenzie Eisenhour's writing is engaging and informative, making this book a valuable addition to any skateboard enthusiast's library.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What type of photography is sports photography?
Sports photography is essentially just taking pictures of sports. The genre relies heavily on action photos, but not all sports photos have to be action shots. Sports photography also includes story-telling images of the game or event as well as candid portraits, detail shots, and athlete portraits.
2. What do sport photographers get paid?
The salaries of Sports Photographers in the US range from $10,008 to $128,763 , with a median salary of $24,375 . The middle 57% of Sports Photographers makes between $24,375 and $59,117, with the top 86% making $128,763.
During our sports photography book research, we found 1,200+ sports photography book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 5,558 customer reviews through our big data system to write the sports photography books list. We found that most customers choose sports photography books with an average price of $21.22.
Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.