Discover the incredible story behind Lawrence Lustig’s iconic “Planet Darts” photograph, taken at the 2019 World Matchplay in Blackpool. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Lustig combined his childhood fascination with space with his professional passion for darts. Using a unique ultra-wide lens and a daring climb high above the stage, he captured a truly ‘out of this world’ image that transformed the darts arena into a spherical, floating planet, celebrating both human exploration and the magic of the sport.
A Childhood Dream Meets Professional Passion
The World Matchplay in the UK is synonymous with summer, and as the 2019 tournament approached, it coincided with a monumental anniversary: 50 years since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the moon. For acclaimed darts photographer Lawrence Lustig, this convergence sparked a brilliant idea.
As a schoolboy, Lustig was utterly captivated by the space race. He vividly recalls July 1969, watching grainy black and white images of the Apollo 11 lunar module touching down, hearing the crackly voice declare, “The Eagle Has Landed!” The feeling of amazement as Armstrong took that “one small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind” stayed with him, inspiring a lifelong appreciation for pioneering spirit.
Decades later, working as a professional photographer in the dynamic world of darts, Lustig sought to combine this powerful childhood memory with his craft. He wanted to create a single, special image for the 2019 World Matchplay at the beautiful Winter Gardens in Blackpool – something that would celebrate both the historic moon landing and the thrilling darts festival.
Crafting the ‘Planet Darts’ Vision
Lustig’s goal was clear: produce a photograph that was different, interesting, and pertinent, without relying on digital manipulation. He aimed for a pure photographic creation.
The Technical Solution: The 8mm Lens
The answer came in his ultra-wide 8mm lens. This specific type of lens is renowned for its ability to make subjects appear spherical and float against a dark background, perfectly mimicking the appearance of a planet. This was the ‘how’ – but the ‘where’ remained a challenge.
The Quest for the Perfect Vantage Point
Having covered the tournament for years and spent countless hours in the iconic venue, Lustig racked his brains for the ideal spot. It became an obsession. After much deliberation and exploring various options around the venue, he realized there was only one place to capture the image he envisioned:
- From high above the oche
- Looking out towards the players and the audience
The Ascent: Capturing the Impossible Shot
With his plan in place, Lustig embarked on a daring climb. He navigated behind the stage, ascending ladders secured to the intricate metal tubing of the set. Finally, he reached the rickety scaffolding boards at the very top – a precarious but ultimately rewarding position.
From this unique vantage point, he fired his shot, capturing his tribute to both the pioneers of space exploration and the terrestrial stars entertaining us with darts. The resulting image, his version of ‘Planet Darts’ (or ‘Darts World’), transformed the familiar arena into a mesmerizing, spherical world, floating in the dark expanse – a true ‘moon shot’ for the darts community.
Behind the Lens: The Technical Details
For those interested in the specifics of how this remarkable image was captured, Lustig used the following equipment and settings:
- Camera: Canon 1dx mk2
- Lens: 8-14mm zoom lens, set at 8mm
- Aperture: F4
- Shutter Speed: 1/320th of a second
- ISO: 3200
These precise settings were crucial in achieving the unique depth, clarity, and spherical effect that made the ‘Planet Darts’ image so iconic and memorable.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
