About

About A Book

This book is the culmination of a 4-year journey across the state of Illinois to photograph the state’s most unique high school gymnasiums. An idea from 2012 that was brought to light after the pandemic shined a light on how much we missed high school sports. The book is part encyclopedia, history, art, and sports, but most of all a tribute to the pride we all have in our local schools, teams, and the state.

The name Illustrious was picked because of its play off of the state’s abbreviation and the meaning of the term which is, “well known, respected, and admired.”

All 126 gyms that are in the book are worthy of that title. See more details about the physical copies of the book on the item page in the online store.

About Vincent D. Johnson

This is the part where I have to write some flowery stuff about myself and my career to convince people I’m “well known, respected, and admired” enough to be worthy of you purchasing my book. I’m not going to do that.

Whether or not I’m Illustrious doesn’t matter. The content of this book does. I can tell you, since the day a guidance counselor put a camera in my hand sophomore year, at Joliet Catholic High School (1989), I’ve been trying to make images that capture real life.

High school sports has, and will always be, one of my favorite things to photograph. This project is a love letter to every person who ever picked up a newspaper to read about high school sports. Your love for prep sports has allowed me to have a 30-year career where I get to be as close to the action as possible as our state’s best young men and women put on a show for us.

This project is the least I could do as a thank you.