Stephan Würth likes to play tennis, but more than that he is a photographer originally from Germany who grew up between Munich, Texas and California. He discovered photography at age fourteen during a family vacation in Spain. In 2000, he enrolled in the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale to study photography, and after graduating, became a full time photographer.
Tennis has long captured the hearts of amateurs, professionals, and experts across the world. To some, it’s a great excuse to meet up with people, to get a little competitive, or to wear head-to-toe Lacoste. To others, it’s about watching some of the greatest athletes of our time, like Serena Williams, achieve unprecedented success. To photographer Stephan Würth, tennis means “exercise, meditation, pleasure. It is my greatest hobby, and besides my wife, my biggest love in life.”
Stephan Würth has taken his ardent personal love of the sport and transformed it into Tennis Fan, a collection of black and white photographs that he took on Kodak film over the past ten years. Comprised of gelatin silver prints on beautiful Czech paper, the book captures Stephan’s life as a tennis fan, traveling to tournaments, practicing on new courts, and being captivated by everything tennis.
“It was instinctive, but for me it was about documenting everything that reminded me of tennis,” says Würth, “whether it’s an ad for the U.S. Open on the side of a city bus, or watching tennis on TV, or even my own tennis bag in one of those beautiful Vespa taxis in Italy. Every time I went to play tennis or every time I was around tennis in some way, I tried to take pictures of it.”
Traveling from Brazil to Italy to Belize, among the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Würth created a unique, spirited selection of images. A follow-up to his other celebrated titles with Damiani, Ghost Town(2011) and Ikinga (2016), Tennis Fanis a playful addition to his oeuvre, as captivating and personal as the game itself can get.
When and how did you get the idea for your book "Tennis-Fan"?
In 2008 I got a Leica MP film camera as a present. During this time I photographed many jobs for magazine clients and wanted to start my own project. I enjoy playing tennis and am also a super fan of the ATP. I thought, “You are so often on the tennis court and also at tournaments, bring your Leica with black and white film” ...
What fascinates you most about tennis culture?
The game itself is very meditative for me and as a spectator I find it just very exciting.
Who supported you in developing and completing the book?
I've been working with Jeffrey Ladd for many years, who printed my pictures in Cologne. I did the book design and image selection with Gregoire Pujade-Lauraine. Gregoire designed many books for Mack Books in London ...
What are the biggest challenges in making books?
For me it's the choice of pictures and the order of the pictures.
Do you have a favorite double page in the book?
Page 64/65. I like the 4 pictures on this double page and how they fit together. One of my favorite pictures from this project is on page 65 above, “Spectators at night match, Indian Wells, California 2012”.
What new print project do you plan to do next?
For years I have been working on a portrait of the American West - also photographed with my Leica and black and white film.
@stephanwurth
STEPHAN WÜRTH Tennis Fan
- 100 pages
- 20 x 25 cm
- Clothbound debossed hardcover
- 64 b/w photographs
- First published in April 2019
- Published by Damiani
- ISBN 978-88-6208-642-4
