Are You Afflicted With World Cup Fever?

Wednesday June 16th, 2010

It’ll incapacitate you, narrow your focus, and leave you with chills: World Cup Fever is upon us, and while it’s hard to imagine for a lot of US citizens, this tournament is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world.  This year South Africa plays host to the games, which run through July 11.

Simon Bruty, sports fanatic and one of our Washington, DC-based photographers, was tapped to shoot last week’s cover of Sports Illustrated featuring USA Team Members Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard. Simon has been a regular shooter for SI since 1997, and has shot over 20 covers for them (including the now-iconic Michael Phelps post-Olympic issue).

Simon Bruty / Sports Illustrated / USA Team Members Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard

Though the Cup started last weekend, the USA team roster wasn’t finalized until just weeks before the first match. Simon’s wife and studio manager Bronwen Latimer explains:

“The athletes were in the final weeks of selection when Simon photographed them in New Jersey so they were working hard, competing, but they were also very gracious and generous with their time when Simon asked for it. Some of the players he photographed did not make it, that’s how close and competitive the selection process was at the time.”

Simon’s a rarity in sports photography because he’s both a great portraitist and a solid action photographer. This is the sixth World Cup that he’s covered, and it’s “one of the most challenging events for Simon because of the nature of the sport- large pitch, assigned seats, constant action for 90 minutes — and the logistics: many nations, many venues, and many miles in between all of them,” explains Bronwen. In May 2008, Simon gave John McDermott some insight into how he approaches each match for McDermott’s CPN Blog.

“I have never really thought it was me who makes a good photograph at a soccer game but the athletes themselves: their grace, energy and devotion to the game are electrifying. My job is to concentrate because the action can change in the blink of an eye. I love to photograph this game because of its unpredictability and the passion the players bring to the field, whether they are playing in the street or in the Stade de France.”

Simon has had a long and rewarding love affair with sports photography. In 1994, the International Olympic Committee chose his portfolio as the Best of Sport Portfolio Winner. And in 2003, The London Observer chose one of Simon’s rugby images as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Sports photographs.

Check out all of Simon’s current work on his portfolio.

And, of course, follow all the World Cup action on FIFA’s official website.

- Amanda Hanley