Photographer: Jeffery Salter | Picture Editor: Marguerite Schropp | Art Director: Chris Hercik
I wish I could say we spent hours analyzing slam dunks but all I can say is 48 hours before this photo was taken I was just leaving the Museum of Modern Art in NYC after trying to see the Bill Brandt photography exhibition when Marguerite called and asked. “Where are you?”. My next call was to Delta Airlines to book a 6:30 am flight back to Miami. My second call was to Capture Integration in Atlanta….that’s where my camera was at.
The shoot location was the Grand ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel. It took about six hours to unload the production truck, navigate basement labyrinth under the hotel to make it into the ballroom and set up. My team built a set for a head to toe photograph intending to show LeBron James casually leaning back against a flat nonchalantly holding the 2013 NBA Championship trophy. When LeBron arrived for my scheduled seven minute shoot he was dressed extremely casually….so it was close-up time.
Here is a short BTS of my seven minutes with the King.
LeBron James cover shoot for Sports Illustrated by Jeffery Salter
My hats off to the Capture Integration in Atlanta who flew down to provide digital capture for the shoot. It was amazing when Dave Gallagher brought along two brand new Phase One IQ260 digital backs with DF+ cameras. The LeBron shoot was taken with the “King” of Medium Format Digital cameras and is the first editorial cover shoot done with the camera.