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PhotoSynthesis: Ray Charles to the Doors, Bruce Springsteen to Blondie

World-class photographer Henry Diltz, to employ a lyric from his friend and Southern California neighbor Joni Mitchell, has looked at life from both sides now. Being a former musician himself, in the '60s group the Modern Folk Quartet, he has numerous friends in the California musical community, which has provided him with a varied pool of camera-ready subjects. In this photo essay, Diltz reveals, in his own words, the process behind his iconic shots of many of rock's greatest names and faces, as well as his uncommon access to them, which he has likened to being "a little kid who sneaked under the circus tent."

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Ray Charles, Los Angeles, 1980: This started with just a random call from a video company that was going to interview him at his studio in L.A. He had designed this whole building. He knew every inch of it. It was sort of like he could see in there, because he knew every room and step, and when you saw him sit at the board, his fingers were just constantly touching the knobs and the buttons and he just knew where everything was. We went out into the studio part of it and he just sat at the piano playing. I guess they were setting up the lights for this shot, 'cause I couldn't click while they were filming. Being a photographer on a documentary crew, you pretty much have to shoot pretty quickly just before and just after the camera rolls.



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Piper

I loved Ray Charles...

January 08 2010 at 2:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
andreea360

Ray Charles was a genius. You rarely see a person with his capabilities. The world will sure miss him. He is one of the most wonderful people of the century. No one can take his place.

April 03 2008 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Drumr

Simply the best. Thanks, Henry

January 01 2008 at 12:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phil W.

Several years ago in Chicago at a WTTW-Channel 11 Soundstage concert recording, i saw, heard, and later met Henry following his performance on several hit songs from the group, AMERICA that evening. What a great person,artist,and musician to meet after all these years and the hundreds of LP album covers that he captured with his cameras over a huge portion of the 1960's and 70's and still even now. He's a class act and a gifted man. Not too many can even begin to fill his shoes !!
THANKS Henry !!!

November 17 2007 at 4:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
flan the man

Henry Diltz, thanks for all the wonderful pictures and the memories , you are truly a "world-class photographer" .

November 16 2007 at 11:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fran McIntyre

Were they ...Lucky in Love?

November 16 2007 at 10:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Douche mcDouchie

I wonder if the Flash from the pic bothered him????

November 16 2007 at 8:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply