A TRIBUTE TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

A picture is worth a thousand words. Where would bodybuilding be today without the particular sensitivity and technical skills of the physique photographer? A photo shoot is hard stress filled work and usually yields only one or two good shots even when the athlete is at his or her peak.

My sincere appreciation and admiration goes to these photographers for their patience, hard work and dedications to their art. They make the bodybuilding world look so good.

Thank you.

ARTIE ZELLER.... RUSS WARNER.... JIMMY CARUSO.... MIKE NEVEUX.... CHRIS LUND....

Chris Lund, international photographer for Flex Magazine, focuses on both of us as I prepare material for today's bodybuilding world. During a particularly enjoyable late summer day at World Gym Venice, I shared a photo session with this crazy and endearing character. What a treat it was to spend time with this man as he created such unique shots. As we talked, his years of involvement in the sport became evident and his enthusiasm inspiring.

Photographer Michael Neveux took the bodybuilders off the gym floor and placed them in the center of his artform. Never before had bodybuilding photography been treated as artistically or with such dramatic use of lights and backgrounds. He creates an energy in his pictures with unexcelled style and contrast.

The photographers who record our sport don't get nearly the credit they deserve. Guys like Artie Zeller, Russ Warner, Jimmy Caruso and John Balik helped mold and form our sport. Artie Zeller, master photographer, bodybuilder, long-time friend and confidant had abdominals and intercostals long before I could spell them. He's another cornerstone who's inspired us all.

I always enjoyed my time with the fun loving Russ Warner. This photo was taken between the 1965 Mr. America and the '66 Universe contest in the winter off-season when I had bulked up to 250 pounds through powertraining. It was a black and white photo which later appeared as a colorized cover of Joe Weider's Muscle Power Magazine.

It's interesting to note how each photographer has his or her own way of capturing their subject. Artie Zeller looks for the body in the action of a workout, Mike Neveux surrounds the body with excitement, while Russ Warner masters studio photography with stark lighting and no background. My wife Laree photographs the bodybuilder with particular attention toward facial expression and mood. The "Get Serious" poster shot was also taken by her and inspired several of our projects.

She's also the gatherer of these old photos - if you've got any of this old stuff archived, drop her an email so we can share it with others.