50 years of photographing Super Bowl gold
SAN FRANCISCO -- At Super Bowl I in 1967, the very first Super Bowl touchdown was captured by a 15-year-old photographer named John Biever.
"I had Max McGee's first touchdown. It's kind of a wide shot showing empty stands in the background," said Biever. That's right, the stands were not full for the first Super Bowl.
Since then, Biever has photographed every single Super Bowl.
Biever got to the first Super Bowl because his father was team photographer for the Green Bay Packers. That first game gave him a favorite photo.
"It's Vince Lombardi coming off the field after the first Super Bowl. My father's to the right in the background, so I had two of my heroes together in the same shot."
By Super Bowl IV, Biever had his press pass. "I've always looked for impact," he explained. "I want to see the athlete's face."
For 30 years now he has been with Sports Illustrated. His photos illustrate changes in both the game and photography.
"Now it's all auto-focus equipment. That little talent of being able to follow and focus the action is gone."
One of Biever's favorite shots is from Super Bowl 22 of Doug Williams. Real grass, real mud -- the way the game used to be.
"The way it used to be, and it made better pictures. It wasn't as antiseptic as it is now," said Biever.
In spite of the changes, one thing at Super Bowl 50 will be the same: John Biever will be there with his camera.