The art of inspiration and influence when it comes to photography happens when there exists real talent and a magical moment (timing, mood, lighting, composition). Jim Marshall had an atavistic knowledge of that moment and how to capture the soul of the person and deliver that beautiful moment to his audience. On March 23, 2010 we sadly lost this legend of Rock & Roll photography. 

His eye was sharp and decisive. I speak often about the greatest gift to photographers being “access”… he epitomized this access and achieving the real moment. Marshall’s unflinching eye captured that truth a split second at a time, that became our reality and a pure and revealing visual example of that subject. These unguarded moments are some of the best that we will ever see in our lifetime. He caught these superstars in the act of being themselves. His approach to his work has become so many of ours. Get the moment that nobody else can get that reveals a glimpse at these larger than life characters. Some of my favorite images are  Janice Joplin in 1968 backstage at Winterland, the epitome of a subject trusting the photographer, Hendrix in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival hitting one of his famous notes, Johnny Cash flippin’ the bird in 1969 during a live recording at San Quentin Prison, Miles Davis in the boxing ring in 1971, The Allman Brothers cracking up is a perfect shot, a quiet moment with Coltrane in 1959, Mick Jagger in 1972 on a plane, and the classic Bob Dylan shot in 1963 rolling a tire down the street that seemingly stops time. You don’t simply view these photos, you feel them.

 Marshall worked in restricted areas and seemed to just blend into the scenery while never imposing. He often spend days with his subjects and really became friends with these artists. This I have found in my career is one of the ways that trust is formed, yielding in most cases, that access. When a artist is comfortable, they have the ability to have a conversation with you versus a chore to power through.  He was the witness to the unwitnessable.

 I am saddened by this loss of this true artist and grateful for his many examples of magical work that he has left us as his legacy. We should all be so lucky to have a career as rich as his was.