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Michael Zagaris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Zagaris
Born (1945-02-22) February 22, 1945 (age 79)
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
OccupationPhotographer
Known forSports and Rock and Roll photography
Notable credit(s)Time Magazine, Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated
Children1
WebsiteZ-Man Photography

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

Early life and education

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Born in Chicago, Michael Zagaris moved to Modesto, California as a toddler. Before 7th grade, in 1957, he moved with his family north to Redding, California and attended St. Joseph School.[1] While living in Redding, Zagaris boarded at Bellarmine College Preparatory and later returned to attend Enterprise High School. Zagaris played both baseball and football while attending Shasta College,[2] where his skills as a wide receiver of the football team earned him a scholarship to George Washington University.[3] Zagaris graduated from George Washington University in 1967 and enrolled in Santa Clara Law School. In Law School, Zagaris worked as a speechwriter for Senator Bobby Kennedy.[4] Zagaris' whole life changed when he witnessed Senator Kennedy's assassination.

Rock & Roll Photography

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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.[4] 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.[5]

Sports Photography

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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.[3] 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.[6]

Books

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  • Halfin, Ross (2023). Pronounced: A Photogaphic History of Lynyrd Skynyrd 1973-1977. Rufus Stone Limited Editions. p. 340.
  • Zagaris, Michael (2022). Field of Play: 60 Years of Shooting the NFL. Cameron + Company. p. 296. ISBN 9781951836764.
  • Kettmann, Steve (2021). Remember Who You Are: What Pedro Gomez Showed Us About Baseball and Life. Wellstone Books. ISBN 9780960061518.
  • Maiocco, Matt & Zagaris, Michael & Mangin, Brad (2019). Letters to 87: Fans Remember the Legacy of Dwight Clark. Cameron Books. ISBN 9781944903770.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Gomez, Pedro & Henderson, Rickey & Beane, Billy & Armstrong, Billie Joe (2017). 50 Years of Oakland A's Baseball. San Diego, California: Rare Art Press Limited. ISBN 9780999092163.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Zagaris, Michael (2016). Total Excess. London: Rare Art Press Limited. ISBN 9781909526402.
  • Barber, Phil & Walsh, Bill & Barnidge, Tom & Zagaris, Michael (2003). We Were Champions - The 49ers' Dynasty in Their Own Words. NFL Properties.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Dickey, Glenn & Zagaris, Michael (1995). The San Francisco 49ers: The First Fifty Years. Turner Pub.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Hickey, J. T. & Zagaris, Michael (1991). Oakland A's. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0877018928.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Dickey, Glenn & Zagaris, Michael (1989). San Francisco 49ers: The Super Years. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0877017026.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Filmography

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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"
2007 Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who No Yes documentary (archival material)
2013 I Am Divine No Yes documentary (archival material)
2014 They Shot the Rock and Lived by the Roll Yes No documentary
2017 Long Strange Trip No Yes documentary (archival photographs)
2018 If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd No Yes documentary (archival materials)
2019 Show Me The Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall Yes No documentary
2020 ICON: Music Through the Lens Yes No 6 episodes
2021 PLUM: A Baseball Life Yes Yes documentary
2021 Count Me In No Yes Netflix documentary (archival material)
2023 San Francisco Sounds: A Place in Time No Yes MGM+ documentary (special thanks)
2024 Zagaris Yes No documentary by Scott Duncan Films

Personal life

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Zagaris has lived in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco since 1973, with his girlfriend Kristin Sundbom.[7] Their son Ari Zagaris is an actor.[8] Chris Isaak babysat Ari.[3]

While growing up in Redding, Zagaris played sandlot baseball at Buck Martinez's house and American Legion baseball for the 1963 Redding Tigers, managed by Joe Hatten, with future major leaguer Bill Plummer and Gene Parent, father of Mark Parent.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Z-Man". Sports Shooter. January 24, 2000. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "Shasta College drops twinbill". Redding Record Searchlight. March 11, 1964. p. 22 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Stoss, Matthew. "The Fight and Fury of the Z-Man". GW Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Michael Zagaris". CarnevaleGallery.com. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  5. ^ DeFazio, Charlotte (November 7, 2016). "Rock photographer Michael Zagaris tells the stories behind his most famous shots". The Guardian. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Coffey, Alex. "Photographer Michael Zagaris keeps giving us a look behind teams' closed doors". The Athletic. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Michael Zagaris, RockPaperPhoto.com.
  8. ^ Ari Zagaris, IMDb.com.
  9. ^ The joy of day baseball in The City, ManginPhotography.net.
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