Art Streiber on photographing Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in uniform for the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Fantasy Football issue

“Our shoot with Antonio Brown was fast and furious,” says Art Streiber of his recent dual assigmment for ESPN The Magazine. “Our first order of business was to photograph him for the Fantasy Football cover of the magazine and then…ask him to take off his uniform and flex for the Body Issue. Antonio is in excellent physical condition, and his body looked sculpted from every angle. And, as a Dancing With the Stars contestant, he’s got the moves…which he demonstrated in the buff!”

Art and his team shot multiple setups with Brown, but a portrait he shot with Antonio in a swimming pool is unique, he notes. “The black-bottomed pool gave the surface of the water a slick, glassy look,” Art explains, “and as Antonio stood still, the water settled. The end result feels as if he is emerging from black granite.”

For previous editions of the highly anticipated Body Issue, Art has shot nude portraits of members of the Indiana Colts’ offensive line, WNBA star Angel McCoughtry, the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, and the USA Women’s Water Polo Team. Shooting for the Body Issue, he says, is a challenge and an honor. “The challenge is giving the athletic nude a fresh look,” he says. “And it’s an honor to be included in a portfolio with such talented photographers shooting such amazing and beautiful work.”

Scroll down for behind-the-scenes images from Art’s Body Issue shoot with Brown, and see more BTS shots here. Read ESPN The Magazine’s interview with Brown here.