Lembit Peegel

Fotografiska welcomes the year 2025, during which Tallinn holds the title of European Capital of Sport, with a focus on Estonian sports photography. On January 24, Fotografiska will open an exhibition titled 'Peegel/Pildis' by the legendary sports photographer Lembit Peegel. This is Peegel's first solo exhibition, showcasing numerous previously unseen images from his vast collection.

The exhibition offers audiences a glimpse into the work of sports photographer Lembit Peegel, featuring powerful and striking photographs that capture aspects of Estonian sports culture from the 1970s to the 1990s, along with fragments of more recent sports moments. Lembit Peegel, often working as a volunteer at the time, traveled to sports competitions with his camera, driven by passion, dedication, and determination. His exceptional ability to capture the beauty, charm, and pain of sports preserved authentic and vivid moments of sports history on film, contributing to the cultural narrative of Estonia.

The exhibition emphasizes the capture of historical moments and emotional atmosphere, which Peegel has masterfully conveyed with his bold and quick reactions. The black-and-white photo stories from the title competitions and mass sports events of the time are juxtaposed with the tricoloured victory moments from Estonia's first Olympic Games after regaining independence, helping to frame the nation's self-belief and rise. Past eras of strength sports, gymnastics, and team sports are richly portrayed through authentic frames filled with genuine emotions, all captured through Peegel's sharp and insightful photographic eye.

As one of the most influential sports photographers of his time, Lembit Peegel's role in Estonia's cultural history is invaluable. His solo exhibition is a significant step in preserving his legacy, much of which has remained inaccessible to the wider public. The exhibition presents around 50 photographs, with background stories compiled with the support of specialists from the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, complemented by Peegel's vivid memories of the moments captured in the images.

The exhibition is curated by Fotografiska Tallinn in collaboration with the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum and sports advocates Are Altraja and Peeter Keek.

Lembit Peegel

Lembit Peegel was born on November 18, 1936, in Tallinn. As a young man, he practiced boxing seriously, winning silver medals in the Estonian Flyweight Championships (up to 51 kg) in 1957 and 1958. He was also the Soviet Union Spartak Sports Society champion from 1955 to 1958. Peegel began his career in sports photography in the early 1960s under the influence of physical culture photographer Gunnar Vaidla, whom he considers his greatest mentor and inspiration in photography.

Peegel worked at Spordileht from 1989 to 1993 and at Eesti Päevaleht from 1993 to 2000. He has covered the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Lillehammer, Atlanta, and Nagano. As a photographer, he has won several awards, including the grand prize for best sports photo in the Finland-Estonia photo competition in 1989. Peegel has been awarded the Order of the White Star, 5th Class (2001) and the National Sports Lifetime Achievement Award (2008).

Lembit Peegel's collection contains approximately 600,000 negatives, and with digital photos included, his work totals around a million frames. He continues to photograph to this day and can still be seen with his camera at major sports events.

The exhibition is supported by Sportland, NIKE, Põhjala Brewery, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, European Capital of Sport 2025 Tallinn, Rotermann, Forus, and GRAM Wellness Drink.

The exhibition's cooperation partners also include the Estonian Olympic Committee, Delfi Meedia, MyFitness, and Fifaa.