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Charlie Haden died today at age 76. A loss of one of the greatest jazz bassists of all time. I had the pleasure of photography Mr. Haden about fifteen years ago for Bass Player Magazine. Here are two of the images.
Wow, that's a loss. I hadn't heard about his passing. Nice images, especially the second. I really like how my eye goes back and forth from the head of the bass to his face.
I like the experimental nature of the first image. It suits his free form jazz style. I like the contemplative nature of the second. These are fine images and I'm sure it was an honor to photograph such a talented and important musician.
Charlie was a very interesting guy to photograph. He was quite shy and VERY protective of his instrument and wouldn't let anyone touch it. At the time he kept one bass here and one in Europe. This was was valued at $80,000 then. I've listened to Beneath the Missouri Sky countless times. Charlie's touch and tone were unmatched. Apparently, and I say apparently, his Polio (from age 15) had returned and that contributed to his death.
"Thanks for sharing these! Can you describe how you got the effect in #1?"
This is a simple, well, not that simple to get right, in camera, blur/sharp technique. Basically there's a strobe through a softbox on the subject but the modeling lamp is turned way down or off. The background is a strobe head with just the modeling lamp. The flash does not fire for the background. The background modeling light is continuously variable for power. The aperture is set for the front strobe - whatever it was, and the shutter speed set for the modeling lamp on the BG. The shutter speed was probably 1/4 to 1/2 second and the as soon as you press the shutter, you start shaking the camera. That forces the edges to blur into the foreground image, but, because the front modeling lamp is off, it doesn't blur the face, etc. I've done a lot of variations of this over the last thirty years or so. Another way to to rack the focus during the exposure. Different effect but often very cool. Works great on products too.
"Peter, the exposure on #2 is exquisite. Film? If so, what camera and film, if I may ask?"
Thanks. The film, according to the edge, was TMX - T-Max100. It was processed in T-Max developer. It was shot on a Mamiya RZ67 and either on a 150mm or 210mm lens.
Glad you like these. I just wish it wasn't all these guys dying that I've photographed that forces me to go back and see what I did. And now with the tools we have now, it's so much easier to take a fresh look at old images. Too often it might have been a really minor thing that caused us to reject an image, and that's no longer an obstacle.
Wow, I am floored by how nice the colors are with the provia. I am sure your lighting scheme has a lot to do with that. Also, the grain seems almost none existent. Beautiful shot, it definitely my favorite of the set.
Wonderful photography of a jazz great - thanks so much for sharing. I got to see Charlie perform a first time (and shook his hand between sets) at the old Keystone in San Fran back in the 70's, and then a second time with Alice Coltrane during her last public performance in 2006. He was involved in so much wonderful music.
