It is no wonder that the greeks, as they were creating the foundations of civilization, put sports competition in such a high prominent place. It has every element of the human life : success, drama, effort, failure, victory, group interaction, solitude, social interaction, involvement, hope, dreams, will, love, passion, and much , much more. Throughout various timely evolutions, we have been part actors, part spectators of this indelible part of our existence. Some of the biggest and most remembered events in human history have been sports events. It is no wonder than that as soon as photography could capture those events, it would with such great success.

Icon Sports Media, successor of the legendary Allsport photo agency, was create in 1999 to continue in this long tradition. Highly focused since its foundation on speedy delivery of images, it has not forgotten, in the process, to remain extremely attached to quality. Owners and founders Tim Curlee and Jaimie Calsyn have been, since 1999, hard at work in establishing their photo agency as the go to place for those seeking a more customize relationship. In a world largely dominated by big players who can deliver ten of thousand of images per day of any imaginable sports event in the world, Icon Sport has preferred to remain focus on the top events in the world, with an emphasis on US sports. They are based in California, after all.

Thanks to a group of mostly freelance photographers based all over the country, they can deliver images of any top event to any of their clients within minutes of them happening. And because those photographers are passionate about the sport they cover, those images will certainly be of the highest quality possible. 
For their first appearance in La Lettre, Icon Sport has decided to show the work of the highly celebrated baseball opening day. After the winter months of inactivities, all the team of the MLB reunite with their stadium in a celebratory first day. It is also the day when fans can finally return to their passion and interact with their idols. A bit like modern gladiators but without the blood, baseball players perform in huge open stadiums where 40 to 50, 000 thousands fans scream their enjoyment, as well as their anger, while they try and perform their best. Opening day is also a celebration of Spring, of renewed outdoor activities where the smell of barbecued hot dogs mixes with the chants of supporting fans.

For more information: www.iconsportsmedia.com or send an email to sales@iconsmi.com

If you are a photo agency and would also like to participate to this weekly column, please send a note to Paul Melcher at paul.melcher@lalettredelaphotographie.com