Athletes

I put athletes in their own category, although the pictures are, finally, portraits. The challenge is to find the personality apart from the uniform. When you have a superbly-conditioned body standing in front of you, anything that gets in the way of showcasing that is a distraction. Most uniforms are, effectively, a distraction.

Every once in a while you get blessed with a tour de force, an athlete who is the total package: physique, surface beauty, and brains. Then add that they are a willing partner in the picture-making, and you’ve got it all.