Walking With Legends

James Anderson Jr. was more than a bodyguard, he was a quiet witness to history, armed with both instinct and a camera.

While protecting some of the most iconic figures in sports and entertainment, James used his rare access to document the unseen: unguarded moments of greatness, vulnerability, and legacy in the making.

With a camera always nearby, he captured over 10,000 never-before-seen images spanning decades, from the training camps of Muhammad Ali to behind-the-scenes glimpses of Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Richard Pryor and many more. Whether on the Victory Tour, at the height of disco, or deep inside a Las Vegas fight camp, James focused not on spectacle, but on truth. His photography reveals the humanity behind the legend, the moments between the headlines that most never saw.

Though he never sought fame himself, James left behind an extraordinary archive that redefines the way we see cultural icons. His work is not only rare, it is undeniably essential to the visual history of our time.

James is also a new contributor to the Getty Images Archives.

Mentors Included : Gordon Parks, Howard Bingham

Soho Warehouse, October 2024