Dave Martin began his photographic career at the Lakeland Ledger in Lakeland, Fla., in 1982 before joining the AP as a staff photographer in Montgomery, AL., in 1983. In 2004, Martin was named the AP’s regional photo editor for the South.
Montgomery-based AP staff photographer Dave Martin on assignment in Afghanistan in 2001.
At sporting events, he was well-known for always managing to get himself in the perfect position to take the shot of winning athletes dousing their coach with water or Gatorade. Done right, such images capture the flourish of airborne water caught in the stadium lights, but they require great timing and positioning.
Saturday’s Iron Bowl marks a renewal of one of college football’s longest rivalries when the Alabama Crimson Tide hosts the Auburn Tigers this Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Last year’s game was considered one of the best in the rivalry. With the game tied, on the last play of the game, Alabama opted to attempt a game-winning 57-yard field goal. It fell short and Auburn’s Chris Davis fielded it nine yards deep in his own end zone and ran it back 109 yards for a touchdown and a 34–28 Auburn win. Dave Martin immortalized the play with an iconic photo that ran in dozens of publications as well as on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Cover of Sports Illustrated with photo by Dave Martin.
Auburn cornerback Chris Davis (11) returns a missed field goal attempt 100-plus yards to score the game-winning touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against No. 1 Alabama in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. Auburn won 34-28. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
On Jan. 1, 2014, Dave Martin died from an apparent heart attack, collapsing on the Georgia Dome field after working the sidelines at Texas A&M’s 52-48 win over Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. He was 59-years-old.
Martin shot nearly every major news event in the South over the past 30 years, taking memorable images during Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill and the tornadoes that sliced through Alabama in 2011. He also traveled around the world for the AP, covering Super Bowls, Olympics, Ryder Cups and other sporting events, as well as political conventions, and conflicts in Afghanistan, Haiti and Iraq.
He won national journalism awards for images including one of golfer Phil Mickelson celebrating his 2004 win at the Masters and another of people bracing themselves against 90 mph winds next to an upended house in Key West, Fla., during Hurricane Georges in 1998.
We remember Dave ‘Mullet’ Martin with some of his best images.
Click on any image to launch the Close Up: Photographer Dave Martin gallery.
An oil slick near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contrasts with the water in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, June 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Members of the 15th ranked Auburn women’s basketball team are introduced prior to their NCAA basketball game against North Carolina A&T at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. Auburn won 95-74. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
The trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, Ala., are adorned with thousands of rolls of toilet paper Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 following a 56-17 win over South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
National Guard soldier Carlos Clopton holds his son Caleb, 11-months, following a deployment ceremony at the Fort Deposit Municipal Complex in Fort Deposit, Ala., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
The sun rises behind some coastal grasses in Dauphin Island, Ala., Thursday, May 17, 2012. The beach season gears up this weekend with the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
A young man walks through chest deep flood water after looting a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Lightning steaks across the sky behind the Young Meadows Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Ala., Monday, March 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Beach visitors of different sorts watch the sunset in Dauphin Island, Ala., Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Demonstrators march in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. The protestors were demonstrating outside Tropicana Field where a welcoming event is taking place for the delegates of the Republican National Convention. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
UNLV linebacker John Lotulelei runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
In this Sept. 25, 1998 photo, taken by Dave Martin, Key West residents Brian Goss, left, George Wallace and Michael Mooney, right, hold on to each other as they battle 90 mph winds along Houseboat Row in Key West, Fla., after the three had sought shelter behind a Key West hotel as Hurricane Georges descended on the Florida Keys. They were forced to seek other shelter when the storm conditions became too rough. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant III ponders a question during the Southeastern Conference NCAA college basketball media day in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
April Ross of the United States spins the ball during a beach volleyball match against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Connecticut players celebrate as they carry their head coach Geno Auriemma after defeating Louisville 93-60 in the national championship game of the women’s Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Convenience store employee Lindsey Bennight watches floodwaters surround the store where she works in Crawfordville, Fla., Monday, June 25, 2012. Bennight had to walk through waist-deep water earlier in the day to leave the store after it was flooded by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Debby. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Alabama fans cheer the Crimson Tide during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Alabama won 24-3. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Phil Mickelson celebrates after winning the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., in this April 11, 2004 photo. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick celebrates after the BCS National Championship college football game against LSU Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in New Orleans. Alabama won 21-0. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Florida coach Urban Meyer is doused by his players in the final seconds of their 31-20 victory over Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
License these photos
Text from AP news story, AP’s Martin remembered as mentor, friend, talent, by Kate Brumback
Lead Image Caption: Lightning steaks across the sky behind the Young Meadows Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Ala., Monday, March 18, 2013. Strong storms moved across much of Alabama on Monday, bringing hail, high winds, and heavy rainfall as a cold front passed through the state. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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This article is really cool. I have bookmarked
it. Do you allow guest posting on your page ? I can write high quality articles for
you. Let me know.
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Thank you for this article. I worked with Dave for several years and consider him the most amazing photographer I have worked around. Not only a great shooter, but an exceptional human being and an all-around good guy.
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