Gary Hershorn is a Canadian photographer and editor based in New York, internationally recognized for his coverage of major sporting events, global-impact news, and his singular vision of New York City. His career began in 1977, when he received his first camera, and that same year he started training by working for his university’s student newspaper. In 1979, he launched his professional path at United Press Canada (UPC), where he covered his first major assignment: the Canadian Open final between John McEnroe and Björn Borg.

In 1985, he joined Reuters, where he built a 29-year career in key roles including Chief Photographer in Canada, Senior Photographer in Washington, D.C., Picture Editor for the Americas, and Global Sports Pictures Editor. For Reuters he covered 17 Olympic Games, starting with his first edition in 1988—an experience that deeply shaped his understanding of the global reach of photojournalism. He also documented some of the most significant events of recent decades, such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, three World Cups, and more than twenty Academy Awards ceremonies.

Throughout his career, Hershorn has been guided by the belief that a single photograph can travel the world and connect different cultures. His celebrated image of Usain Bolt winning the 100-meter final in Beijing 2008 with a loose shoelace is one of the most emblematic examples of his work.

His professional philosophy emphasizes calmness, patience, and a profound understanding of every subject he photographs. He credits Bob Carroll, his first editor at UPC, as a decisive figure in his development—a demanding yet generous mentor who helped him elevate his craft as a photojournalist.

Since leaving Reuters in 2014, Hershorn has worked as an editor at Flipboard, FOXnews.com, and ABC News Digital, while also operating as a freelance photographer and contributor for Getty Images. He additionally undertakes news curation work for digital media outlets.

One of his most personal projects is the documentation of New York’s skyline and its celestial phenomena, a series he began in 2011 on the tenth anniversary of September 11. This body of work led to the book New York Celestial, published in 2019, and continues to evolve through his extensively shared and celebrated images.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Gary Hershorn has photographed history in real time, bringing millions of people closer to pivotal moments through his lens.