Polo brings with it money, glamour and a whiff of naughtiness. There is something rather visceral and sexy about it all, a bit like being an art thief. Girls are drawn to Polo in a way they are not drawn to other big field sports such as cricket or baseball. Meanwhile, luxury brands like Rolex and LVMH may show mild interest in the duels on the field but are more excited by the audiences in front of whom the game is played. The talent on the horses is matched by the talent off the horses; not something that is true perhaps of any other professional sports. It is a complete scene and offers an insight into the rarefied lives of a few. Ralph Lauren understood that it was a microcosm of what some may assume to be a better life.
The whole affair, like Thomas Crown’s, is deeply aspirational. This photograph works largely because of the flat light in Wellington, Florida that spring morning. There is an unmistakable sense of polo in Florida. There are many people to thank for making this picture happen and I am reminded, yet again, that the easiest part of the job is pressing the shutter. I had an idea, but we then needed to execute it and that required the support of many busy people.
