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

Walter Iooss' Portraits of Athletes

Thanks to Production Paradise for Spotlighting the Art & Soul Project. It’s been a great project to be able to work with The Creative Coalition and all the artists to show support for funding the arts and arts education. Thanks of all to all the celebrities including Samuel Jackson, Anne Hathaway, Adrian Grenier, Taraji P. Henson, Dule Hill, Tichina Arnold, Tony Bennett, Alyssa Milano, David Hyde Pierce, Tim Daly, Lynn Whitfield, Harry Belafonte, Richard Belzer, Robert Davi and Tamala Jones….for lending their voices to this great cause and their wonderful faces to my camera!

If you have checked out Production Paradise, take a look…they’re the directory and showcase for the visual media industry.

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…

THE COVE from thonie lee on Vimeo.

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.

Got the chance to catch the Private Gallery Opening tonight for legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard’s Exhibit at Jazz at Lincoln Center. I’ve been looking forward to this show ever since I ran into Herman at Irving Penn’s “The Small Trades” exhibit at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

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

My favorite photographer Irving Penn died today. Penn’s life personified the grace of his photographs. At 92, he never retired from shooting great images that he was famous for. Last month I caught Penn’s Exhibit of “The Small Trades” at the Getty center. This stunning exhibit will be at the Getty Center through January 10, 2010. Don’t miss it!

There’s a fabulous exhibit of Irving Penn’s portraits of workers with the tools of their trade in the The Small Trades exhibit at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles though January 10, 2010.

Initially created in 1950 and 1951 in London, New York, and Paris, The Small Trades show consists of 252 portraits of radespeople in their work clothes and carrying the tools of their respective trades.  The Small Trades was Penn’s most extensive body of work, involving 215 subjects from three cities, and he returned to it over many decades, producing ever more exacting prints, the show spotlights the evolution of Penn’s printing techniques by pairing his earlier silver and later platinum prints.

The experience of the show was made even better when I ran into one of my favorite photographers, legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard, checking out the show.

If you can’t make it to LA, don’t miss the book,  ‘Irving Penn: Small Trades‘