Old shots of a couple greats on their birthday.

[Art Meripol]

A couple old shots from my files. I noted that today is the birthday of both Johnny Cash and Fats Domino. The Fats photo is from 1982. Shot on an Olympus OM-1 I bought in 1974 and the Zuico 135mm 2.8. That is one sweet lens.
Johnny Cash is from the first Farm Aid Concert in Champaign Illinois in September 1985 and was shot with a Nikon Fm2 and a 180mm. Both are on Tri-X.
Fats was in Beaumont Texas and a chance to see or photograph him was already a rare thing. Views were very limited since he was behind the keyboard. Johnny was much easier because I was shooting for UPI wire service so I was on stage all day instead of in the pit looking up.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Two outstanding portraits in every respect.

 

[Art Meripol]

Two outstanding portraits in every respect.

Thank you Gianluca.

 

[Keith Drysdale]

Love Johnny looking straight at you.

 

[Art Meripol]

Love Johnny looking straight at you.

one of the great things of years past shooting concerts was that few photographers were allowed, none in the audience with a cell phone back then. So as the artists surveyed the crowd they would often spot the camera. Staying ready for that allowed me to capture them in a way that has them looking back at the viewer. Always loved that.

 

[Gary Ayala]

one of the great things of years past shooting concerts was that few photographers were allowed, none in the audience with a cell phone back then. So as the artists surveyed the crowd they would often spot the camera. Staying ready for that allowed me to capture them in a way that has them looking back at the viewer. Always loved that.

Yeah ... that is a 'technique' of most people in the public's eye. When on stage/podium they'll make eye contact of the pro photog and then hold a pose for just a bit longer ... for the camera ... but not so long that the audience is aware that the person is posing.