Finally in Focus

Famed portrait photographer Annie Lebovitz once said, “A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.” That sentiment could be used to describe the career of marine photographer Billy Black, a man recognized on docks around the country for his crisp imagery and charisma.

Like many of you, I first came to recognize the name Billy Black from his photography bylines. It seemed that every issue I worked on in my early years featured his stunning photos. Knowing little else about the famed yacht photographer, I was certain of one thing: He was a master of his craft. I still remember meeting him on the docks of the Newport Shipyard; for me it was like meeting a celebrity. His humility was on full display from that very first encounter.

I’ve since had the opportunity to shadow and work with Billy many times. Together we brought the stories of countless boats and people to life, such as the Hood 57 LM on page 78, the beautifully restored Huckins on page 88 and the Back Cove 39O on page 100. Then of course there’s this issue’s stunning