CARDBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY - Yvon Labre

Great cardboard photography is much more commonplace these days versus the single set releases of the 1970's.

The tools to take the photos have vastly improved, the frequency of shots and number of photographers has skyrocketed and the sheer number of cards out there these days lends to a much better chance of finding something that is very eye-catching.

Back in the 70's, most player cards were a portrait shot in front of a boring blue background or the simple 'peewee hockey picture pose' on the ice. The cards for the most part were very.....VERY boring to look at.

For the most part.

Seeing a great action shot on a card from the 70's makes me stop and take notice. How did they get that shot? Who was the photographer? Why aren't the other 395 cards in the set like this one?

This card sits as one of my favorites from that time period.

1975/76 O-Pee-Chee
#61 Yvon Labre

Yup. Out of all the guys that could have a cool action shot......it's Yvon Labre that steals the show.

Not Orr, not Esposito, not Lafleur, not Dionne, not Perreault, not any of the giant stars of the game.

Here is a great photo - of a defenceman no less - of a hard checking play with great depth and framing. The lack of helmets on Labre and the Detroit checker just adds to the flow (literally) of the photo.

The other thing that really makes this card cool is that you can tell the photo is old - taken in the 70's. It crisp....but not by today's standards. The colors are bold....but in a unique way that represents the time period. And lastly, the era of the card itself. Printed on good ol' cardboard (with a ridiculously simple card design) makes this the complete package.

A great looking photo and a great looking card.