Tennis Courts

Known for pristine images rendered with nuanced depth, photographer Karl Hab presents his latest thematic book, Tennis Courts, a subject he has documented consistently and with great interest through the years.

Tennis Courts reflects Hab’s distinct approach to aerial photography alongside the graphic qualities of court lines and surfaces. From various angles, and with an eye towards the space around each image, what plays out is a visual study of form, colour, and composition. “These elements all come together as a kind of visual language that I find endlessly inspiring,” says Karl Hab.

“The images I have chosen – some never seen until now – are among my favourites, as my intention was to frame the sport through an alternate aesthetic lens. True to my work, this book is a photographic exploration,

An artistic tribute to the beauty of tennis environments.” The series began in August 2013 in Los Angeles,  and in parallel with Hab’s travels, extends to tennis courts in Paris,  London and beyond. With aerial photography a throughline, many images were shot from above, including several from a helicopter over California.

Although tennis is a sport that Hab has followed closely – he recalls childhood moments like watching Mary Pierce’s unforgettable 2000 victory on clay and attending iconic  tennis tournaments in Paris,  this project is less about the game than the atmosphere it creates. Drawing the viewer’s gaze to an array of tennis balls, palm trees in shadow, and empty white benches, Hab depicts self-contained worlds where light, textures and the quiet presence of place transcend time. Tennis Courts joins a wider body of work that includes Ice Cream, Heels and his 24H series that spans Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Paris. Many of the images in this volume have been published for the first time. Text by Amy Verner.

136 pages. Hardcover. First edition published in 2025.