I just got sad news that Herman Leonard, the Greatest Jazz Photographer who ever lived, has passed away. Even if you don’t know the name, you know the photographs. Herman captured iconic photographs of the Legends of Jazz better than anyone. I know all his friends up above are playing a great jam session for him tonight. Check out tonight’s ABC World News Tonight for a tribute to a legend I can proudly call my friend…
Herman Leonard "Jazz at Lincoln Center" October 2009
Me and Herman at the opening of "Jazz at Lincoln Center" October 2009
Catch Legendary Jazz Photographer Herman Leonard this Thursday, April 1 from 7 – 9pm at the Opening reception for “Legends of Jazz Photography” at Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles. The show features the work of Herman Leonard, William Claxton and William Gottlieb. All are welcome to attend. It’s a great chance not only to see great jazz photographs but to also meet a true Jazz Legend…The exhibit runs from April 1 – May 15, 2010.
Heaven just gained a Rock Star with the passing of Legendary Rock photographer Jim Marshall. I loved you my friend, so I know you’re partying like a rock star tonight behind the pearly gates. It must be a Hell of a Band! Now they have a Hell of a Photographer to shoot them!
Jim Marshall and me at his show "Trust" at The Morrison Hotel Gallery last fall.
If you’re in New York, you can check out Jim’s images paired with Timothy White’s in “Match Prints” exhibition at Staley-Wise Gallery in Soho (through April 24. ) If not check out this sample from the “Match Prints” book on GQ.com. Jimmy was a true original. Only guy I’ve ever met who could get kicked out of a restaurant that has one of his prints on the wall and then welcomed back the next night with a hug. I’m sure he’s partying with Janis Joplin now…
Took advantage of an off-day in LA to check out the Walter Iooss – Neil Leifer Exhibit at the stunning Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City. Great space and an even better exhibit with prints of many of their most memorable images paired with fantastic multimedia shows interlacing interviews of each between their greatest hits. Simply Fab!
Neil Leifer's classic overhead photograph of a Mohammed Ali knockout
Congrats to fellow Mizzou photojournalism alum, director Louie Psihoyos for his Oscar nomination and Directors Guild win for ‘The Cove’. As an old friend, I still remember Louie getting his film debut in a cameo as a news photographer in a Sylvester Stallone film in Dubuque, Iowa before going on to J-School…well look who’s invited to the Red Carpet this year…
Just learned the very sad news that my high school journalism advisor Tom Rolnicki died December 20th. After inspiring and challenging me and many of my classmates to strive to be the best, Tom went on to become the executive director of the National Scholastic Press Association and co-authored “Scolastic Journalism“. I was honored that he brought me in a couple times to speak at their annual conventions. Tom was truly an inspiration in many careers and will be missed.
“Whenever anyone asks me how I got the photographs I did, why I was often the only photographer present or got such unique access I reply simply, ‘Trust’.” – Jim Marshall
Even if you don’t know legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall – you know his photographs. Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire onstage at Monterey, Johnny Cash in Folsom Prison and flipping the bird onstage, Miles Davis boxing at Newman’s Gym, Jim Morrison taking a puff…
Last week while I was in New York I stopped by The Morrison Hotel Gallery and Loft to check out Marshall’s show from his his book ‘Trust’
The Morrison Hotel Gallery
124 Prince Street
New York, New York
October 22-November 13, 2009
If you hurry you might even be able to snag an autographed copy of ‘Trust’ Jim Marshall’s book ‘Trust’ is available on Amazon if for some strange reason you can’t make it to The Morrison Hotel Gallery before they run out.
Every year at PhotoPlus I have dinner with a bunch of photographers including Jim at Cafe Loup. I’ve always like Jim and dinner with Jim is always entertaining .Be sure to check out Jim’s website Marshall Photo.
Two of my favorite images from the show were Leonard’s photographs of Miles Davis an Frank Sinatra that were among the prints that were damaged when Leonard’s New Orleans home was flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina – proving that out of tragedy sometimes comes beauty.
Fortunately for history, none of Leonard’s negatives were lost in the flood as they were safely stored in a different location. Don’t miss this show by a true Legend. Leonard’s work is the finest photography of the Jazz age.
Herman Leonard’s Jazz at Lincoln Center is up through February 14, 2010.
Jazz at Lincoln Center • 33 West 60 Street • New York, NY 10023
The Library of Congress featured a exhibit of his photographs from the 'Art & Soul' project as part of a star-studded gala. He's been featured on the cover of the Photo District News Portraiture Issue and in the Communication Arts Photography Annual, American PHOTO, Digital Photo Pro, Rangefinder, After/Capture and Pop Photo magazines.
Smith is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and a X-Rite Coloratti and has appeared on Fine Living Channel teaching a Little League Mom how to become a Big League Sports Photographer. His photography career began as a high school swimmer clearly not destined for the Olympics in the pool, yet this provided him with the opportunity to photograph swimming and other sports as a stringer for the Ames Daily Tribune.
Smith is President of Editorial Photographers, an organization of 2,000 of the top magazine photographers and newspaper photojournalists from around the world. He is frequently a speaker at photography seminars and to photo students at colleges, universities and art institutes around the country and can often be found on a flight headed to the Caribbean, Latin America or the American South from his home in Miami Beach, Florida.
