Martin Elliot - photographer of the Tennis Bum - sadly RIP
It's one of those truly iconic images isn't it. While cheesy to within an inch of its life it nevertheless was a huge feature in the '70's and early '80's.
Martin Elliott, a wonderfully down to earth chap, took the picture is his girlfriend Fiona Butler in 1976. All the props were borrowed and Elliott was a photography student at the time.
The image was sold to Athena and sold more then 2 million through Athena and of course has continued to sell in millions after Athena's demise.
Sensibly Martin Elliott maintained copyright on the image - and I'm sure made a fortune from out. Though the story is that Fiona never made a penny (though she did marry a millionaire).
Fiona Butler was apparently very happy about that, she liked the idea that something the two of them had knocked together one afternoon became so famous. Of course - it' is the bum that's crucial - the correct name for the image is "Tennis Girl" = but I think the whole reason the image works is that the girl is faceless - is she famous - is she the girl next door??
Elliott died peacefully at home near Truro aged 63 after a long fight with testicular cancer.
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