By Alicia Tang
On May 19, Rock and Roll photographer James Fortune delighted gallery viewers with some of his best and most famous works at Greenwich Avenue’s C. Parker Gallery’s opening reception.
“The Rock Photography of James Fortune” drew visitors craving a time machine back to when the genre was preeminent. A poster with a pensive-looking Paul McCartney with the slogan, “Come See What You Have Been Hearing”, sat in the window display, teasing the collection featuring several shots of the Beatles singer and many more of his contemporaries. The exhibition will be available for public viewing only until this Sunday, the 29th.
Letting the background music sway them into a nostalgic mood, gallery visitors last Thursday were treated to a blast from the past complemented by exclusive stories told by the humorous and dynamic self-taught photographer.
Though Fortune is a long-time fan of rock, it is not necessarily the music Fortune most clearly recalls from the plurality of concerts he’s attended; rather, he had tuned it out to refine his photography.
“I did not use flash 90% of the time, I had to push the film speed,” Fortune disclosed regarding his concert photography methods. That’s what you had to do to “try to get everything you [can] out of each picture.”
Fortune’s initial success was born out of his initiative. When he was a college student, Fortune reached out to record companies offering his photography services in exchange for free albums. His calls were returned by Elektra Records, who booked him on his first gig with The Doors. The photos that he took that day graced the booklets of the 50th anniversary edition of Strange Days, released just five years ago.
Viewers clustered to inspect each piece, remarking how much they recall adoring the artists that adorned the wall, including Diana Ross, Fleetwood Mac, and, of course, Paul McCartney. The content of Fortune’s exhibited photos were authentic, eccentric, and unexpected. Cher and Gene Simmons of the band Kiss share an eclair. Diana Ross, Cher and Elton John pose amicably. Robert Plant with a dove in his hand.
Every photo captures a moment or essence that can never be replicated again. This is especially true of James Fortune’s photographs, which capture the likes of rock stars such as Led Zeppelin, Jim Morrison, and more, revealing intimate but public truths that many witnessed, but few truly registered in the tumult of the era.
The moments were fleeting; Fortune’s work portfolio includes photographing Cher’s baby shower and the Sonny and Cher show, and taking photos of rock stars alongside President Ford in Los Angeles, but he has not been able to see the photos he took at these exclusive events; “they gave me a check and I’ve never seen it”.
With rock at its peak in the politically-charged 60’s and 70’s, Fortune knew how to be at the right place at the right time. In his efforts, Fortune has immortalized the moments from one of the most transformative, stand-alone decades for music.
