Athletes turned photographers. Taking their unique and skilled eyes on the field/court/ice and transferring it to behind the lens.
Some of the best athletes on the planet have shown to be talented in other fields, like becoming successful designers or actors. And in recent years, athletes have also turned to photography to showcase a completely different side of their talents.
As these athletes get behind the lens, they often find themselves photographing sports events. Some have also gone outside the sports world and photographed concerts, wildlife and their experiences in other countries.
Here are some of the most notable names of athletes turned photographers.
Kevin Durant
KD, The Slim Reaper, had a front row seat to Super Bowl 50 when he was invited by the NFL as a credentialed photographer for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Kevin Durant photography. It even also has a nice ring to it.
Durant has talked about wanting to explore himself outside of basketball. And photography is one of the many ventures he has shown an interest in. He is as skilled a basketball player as there is on the planet. But he has also shown that his talents go beyond the basketball court.
Durant’s photography portfolio looks like it will just keep on building.
Ken Griffey Jr.
One of the best baseball players to ever play the game and as influential a baseball player as there has ever been. The Kid has picked up a camera and become a professional photographer, working for places like ESPN.
He has been seen on the sidelines of many NFL and NCAA football games, even photographing a game in which his son played in. Ken Griffey Jr. has taken photography seriously ever since he retired in 2010. He is the prototypical example of star athlete turned photographer
Randy Johnson
One of the best pitchers of his era is The Big Unit.
Johnson, who majored in photojournalism in college, began photographing for major media outlets after his retirement. He has photographed for NASCAR.
Johnson has also gone outside of the sports world with his photography. He has captured wildlife like the African safaris, musical artists and concerts. Still, nonetheless he remains one of the most famous and prestigious athletes turned photographers.
Tyson Chandler
The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner got into photography right in the prime of his career.
He debuted a photography exhibition called “A Year in a New York Minute.” It documented photographs he took over the course of a year in New York City, London, and Tanzania.
Chandler has said that his 7-foot-1 frame allows him to see angles that most aren’t able to. A benefit of being one of many athletes turned photographers.
Annice Lynn
A former National Figure Skater, Lynn has become an award-winning sports photographer. Her work often captures what goes on behind the scenes of figure skating. She uses her experience as a figure skater to capture the moments that someone not familiar with the sport may miss.
Isaac Rochell
A defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers, Rochell has photographed boxing champions. But he also uses his platform to warn people of the dangers social media can have on someone’s mental health.
Rochell has also photographed many soccer games and even a Lakers game. Like everyone on this list, Rochell has shown he is more than an athlete. An athlete turned photographer.