Michael Zagaris

Michael Zagaris (born February 22, 1945) is an American sports and rock and roll photographer known for his work the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco 49ers, and the 1970s Rock & Roll scene.

Michael Zagaris
Born (1945-02-22) February 22, 1945
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
OccupationPhotographer
Known forSports and Rock and Roll photography
Notable credit(s)
Time Magazine
Children1
Websitezagaris.photoshelter.com

Early life and education

Born in Chicago, Michael Zagaris moved to Modesto, California as a toddler. Before high school he would move with his family north to Redding, California.[1] While living in Redding, Zagaris attended Bellarmine College Preparatory where his skills as a wide receiver of the schools football team earned him a scholarship to George Washington University.[2] Zagaris graduated from George Washington in 1967 and enrolled in Santa Clara Law School. In Law School, Zagaris worked as a speechwriter for Senator Bobby Kennedy.[3] Zagaris' whole life changed when he witnessed Senator Kennedy's assassination.

Rock & Roll Photography

After dropping out of Law School after one year, Zagaris began to embrace his photography hobby, finding ways to get on the field at 49ers games and backstage at concerts. While reviewing some of Zagaris' photos after a concert, Eric Clapton advised Zagaris to pursue photography as a steady gig.[3] Throughout the 1970s, Zagaris would photograph some of the popular bands of all time, including The Grateful Dead, The Clash, Blondie, The Who, and Tom Petty.[4]

Sports Photography

While in high school, Zagaris used to take discarded press passes from the field at Kezar Stadium and use them to gain access to the field to take photographs of the San Francisco 49ers. After years of finding his way onto the field, the 49ers made Zagaris the official team photographer in 1973. In 1981, Walter Haas bought the Oakland Athletics and Zagaris was brought in as their official team photographer. In the years since, Zagaris has photographed 34 Super Bowls, 12 World Series, and 14 MLB All-Star Games. His sports photography has graced the covers of Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated.[2] Zagaris' sports photography is famous for its intimacy, as he gives the viewer a rare look behind the scenes in the clubhouse and the locker room to see a different side of the team.[5]

Books

  • Zagaris, Michael (2016). Total Excess. London: Rare Art Press Limited. ISBN 9781909526402.
  • Hickey, J. T. & Zagaris, Michael (1991). Oakland A's. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0877018928.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Dickey, Glenn & Zagaris, Michael (1989). San Francisco 45ers: The Super Years. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0877017026.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Filmography

Year Title Self Crew Notes
2004 NFL Films Presents Yes No 1 episode: "Michael Zagaris"
2000-2006 ESPN SportsCentury Yes No 3 episodes: "Billy Martin: Part 2," "Tom Brady," "Terrell Owens"
2013 I Am Devine No Yes documentary (archival material)
2014 "The Shot the Rock and Lived by the Roll Yes No documentary
2019 Show Me The Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall Yes No documentary
2020 ICON: Music Through the Lens Yes No 6 episodes
2020 PLUM: A Baseball Life No Yes documentary (archival photographs)
2021 Zagaris Yes No documentary by Scott Duncan Films

Personal life

Zagaris has lived in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco since 1973, with his girlfriend Kristen Sundbom.[6] Their son Ari Zagaris is an actor.[7]

While growing up in Redding, Zagaris played baseball with future major leaguers Bill Plummer and Buck Martinez.[8]

References

  1. "Z-Man". Sports Shooter. January 24, 2000. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  2. Stoss, Matthew. "The Fight and Fury of the Z-Man". GW Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. "Michael Zagaris". CarnevaleGallery.com. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  4. DeFazio, Charlotte. "Rock photographer Michael Zagaris tells the stories behind his most famous shots". The Guardian. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  5. Coffey, Alex. "Photographer Michael Zagaris keeps giving us a look behind teams' closed doors". The Athletic. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  6. Michael Zagaris, RockPaperPhoto.com.
  7. Ari Zagaris, IMDb.com.
  8. The joy of day baseball in The City, ManginPhotography.net.
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