Entertainment & Arts

Famed sports photographer turns lens on himself

Neil Leifer holds a Yashica Mat camera that his brother gave him for what Neil thinks was his 60th birthday at his apartment/office space in New York on Dec. 4. He shot a photo of Alan Ameche scoring the winning touchdown in what has often been referred to as "the greatest game ever played" with almost the same camera. It was the sudden-death game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants, which took place on his 16th birthday, Dec. 28, 1958. He later sold the camera, but he said he wishes he still had it.

Neil Leifer holds a Yashica Mat camera that his brother gave him for what Neil thinks was his 60th birthday at his apartment/office space in New York on Dec. 4. He shot a photo of Alan Ameche scoring the winning touchdown in what has often been referred to as “the greatest game ever played” with almost the same camera. It was the sudden-death game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants, which took place on his 16th birthday, Dec. 28, 1958. He later sold the camera, but he said he wishes he still had it.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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Neil Leifer holds a Yashica Mat camera that his brother gave him for what Neil thinks was his 60th birthday at his apartment/office space in New York on Dec. 4. He shot a photo of Alan Ameche scoring the winning touchdown in what has often been referred to as “the greatest game ever played” with almost the same camera. It was the sudden-death game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants, which took place on his 16th birthday, Dec. 28, 1958. He later sold the camera, but he said he wishes he still had it.

Neil Leifer

The “Don Drysdale; World Series Game 3, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles” print hangs above the area where Neil Leifer signs his new book, “Ballet in the Dirt: The Golden Age of Baseball,” at the TASCHEN Store New York on Dec. 3.  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

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