RIP - photographer Brian Lanker

If you read Sports Illustrated - you are familiar with his work. Iconic portraits of the greats, swimsuit issue classics and my favorite - the photos he did for Frank DeFord's "Toughest Coach Who Ever Lived" article.
Lanker died this week in Eugene, Oregon of pancreatic cancer.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1103/brian-lanker-tribute/content.1.html

 

That Fridge photo is wonderful. All of these are great, but that one stands out.

 

Well, I saw Rick Barry as I'd never seen him before...The only way I ever picture him is shooting (and nearly always making) his underhand-style, back-spinning free throws.

Loved the Natalie Coughlin swim shot, and also the one of Rickey Henderson (er, the base, and his hands...).

The photos of Bill Russell, Dr. J and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar seem perfect for them, as well, and the one of Paulina Porizkova is classic SI swim suit stuff.

He did seem to have an affinity for the pensive-portrait shots, though, didn't he?

Great tribute to Brian and his work.

 

1985 was a great, great year for the swimsuit edition. Compelling work.

Jack and Magic is my favorite in that collection.

Soooo 1980s.

 

Isn't the Jack and Magic cover the one that never ran (as a cover). I seem to remember it being an inside pic that had an explanation of why they didn't run it as the cover. Maybe it was when the Royals won the series.

 

Great stuff in that gallery. And although a departure from the other stuff, I couldn't help but love the Katzenmoyer photo -- perfect placement of the flying ref.

Also unintentionally hilarious is the one of Wilt Chamberlain in his bed, considering the claims he would make in his future autobiography.

 

Good to see you back Cowbell... Feel free to stick around.

 

Cowbell only posts in RIP threads now. Look for his work next in the Drew Hill thread.

 

Hopefully Brian was able to nail a swimsuit model or two.

RIP