The Boys of Spring: Timeless Portraits from the Grapefruit League, 1947-2005

Having looked at numerous baseball photography books, from Conlon to Brace to TSN, SI, you name it, Sweet's book is one of the best I've ever laid hands on. Many of the photos have similar shots of what you see today, until you read the book and realize that Sweet was THE FIRST ONE to shoot baseball photos from these great angles. But many of the shots you'll see in here are complex shots that you likely won't see anywhere else, such as the simulated action shots of a pitcher throwing a ball (ball included) or a closeup of a fielder turning two. Sweet's photos also offer a great deal of detail via the medium format film--lots of textures of wool-uniform, felt logos, embroidered logos, sweat beads, pores, stubble. Then on top of all that you notice a slightly different take or emotional expression that Sweet had a knack for capturing. Cap it off with a bright yellow background or blue sky and the results have a timeless quality. Where George Brace's work (black/white photography) primarily ends is where Sweet (color) picks up--1949 to present. With the invention of color film at mid-century, Sweet's early photos were taken at the dawn of a new era, and we're priviledged to be able to see those legends in full color from 1949 with Joe D to Hideki Matsui in 2005. The focus of this book is spring training, and looking/reading through it is about as enjoyable as being there. The book has a nice 1950's vintage feel with softer colors and great use of negative space. The stories are very informative and entertaining--a commentary about the shot, each player's personality, as well as some historical info/data on the players. Many of the photos have a vintage/retro coloring to them, as if the negative had already been oxidized a bit. and it's not clear to me whether they were intentional or just not color-corrected. In any case, the result does produce a more vintage feel, particularly the 50's-60's shots. Baseball fans who grew up during the 50's-70's will appreciate the photos in this book. I can't see why sports photographers would pass this book up, not for someone who is considered to be the greatest by his peers.

I thouroughly enjoyed viewing the old and new photos in Ozzie Sweet's new book and reading the accompanying stories. His photographic style is unmatched even today in the unique way in which he posed his shots. It's amazing how he captures such such great colors and seems to look into the souls of his subjects. After reading the book it is amazing how many current day sports photographers look at him as a baseball player would look at Babe Ruth. Whether you are a camera buff or a sports fan, I highly recommend this book.