Tom Zimberoff

I received a wonderful email from Tom Zimberoff this week that included several images he shot back in the 70′s of a few of the photographers in Behind Photographs. I photographed Tom in San Francisco with his fantastic photograph of Indian Larry, just weeks prior to his accidental death. I asked Tom if it would be OK to share these images on my blog and he gladly agreed. He even shared a portrait of himself shot by Douglas Kirkland in the 70′s as well. Enjoy!

Howard Bingham

Douglas Kirkland

Neal Preston

It has been a long year and long wait, but the books finally arrived last week, all 6 pallets of them! We have been busy moving the 4,500 pounds around the studio and getting books signed and shipped for the holidays. If you would like to order a signed book, you can purchase books direct from the studio at:

http://www.mantoani.bigcartel.com/

Tim Mantoani and Douglas Kirkland

I was blown away with the group that showed up at Ogilvy to support the release of Behind Photographs. It was great to reconnect with 29 of the photographers that are in the book and a couple hundred other supporters that braved the rain and wind. Here are a few pics from the party. I should have books in San Diego soon and will be posting info on book events in San Diego, LA and San Francisco. Thanks again to everyone that has supported and encouraged me over the past five years to see this project through to publication.

JIll Enfield, Douglas Kirkland, Barbara Bordnick, Guido Karp, Greg Watermann and Dan Kramer

Roxanne Lowitt and Tim Mantoani look over a wall of images

Keith Green with his portrait

John Iacono and John Dominis

Douglas Kirkland signing books while designer Mark Murphy and Sandro catch up.

Douglas Dubler signed books

Lois Greenfield and Ryszard Horowitz

May Pang and Tim Mantoani

Guido Karp made the trip from Germany!

Thom Mangelsen checking out Al Wertheimer and "The Kiss"

I have started an effort on Kickstarter to get some positive pre-sales rolling for my book which is due out soon. Please take a look. Books are priced with shipping at the same cost as retail + shipping, plus there are some other special offerings. This book has taken five years to shoot and get published. Thanks for taking a look. Click here to give me a “kickstart”!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2139052762/behind-photographs-archiving-photographic-legends?ref=email

Herman Leonard with his photograph of Dexter Gordon at the Royal Roost 1948

The work of Herman Leonard has had a great impact on the world of photography. Herman had a unique perspective and a thirst for technical perfection. Although his work was recorded in still photographs, his images often gave you a sense of sound. He will be missed dearly. Please pay him a tribute by viewing his work http://www.hermanleonard.com/

On the bottom of his Polaroid portrait he wrote, “It was early 1948 at the Royal Roost in New York. An afternoon rehearsal gave me a unique opportunity to photograph many giants of jazz with my trusty 4×5 Speed Graphic. What a great career! To do what you love and be entertained at the same time!”

Herman Leonard and Tim Mantoani

Ron Galella and his photo "Windblown Jackie" 10/4/1971

Here is a look at the HBO Trailer

Marty Lederhandler

It is sad to see another participant from my Behind Photographs Project pass away, but I am very thankful to have shared time with so many of these great photographers. Marty Lederhandler was a legendary AP photographer who had a career which spanned 66 years. I was introduced to Marty by Paul Waldman, founder of The Living American Masters Photographers Project, just over a year ago and was able to photograph him in New York. Paul has documented photographers for about 15 years and we first met when he came to interview and photograph Dean Collins around 1993. At the time, I was Dean’s studio manager. In addition to Paul shooting portraits of photographers, he has also been recording them to create an oral history of the photo industry. Please take time to listen to Marty’s famous pigeon story from D-Day that Paul shared with us and visit his site at www.thelampp.org. Pigeon Story

Paul Waldman with 3 of his LAMMP portraits

It is no surprise. Kim is an amazing person and a incredible photographer. Here is his portrait for my Behind Photographs Project. He is holding a book of this images from The Phillippines when he captured the fall of The Marcos Regime and won The Pulitzer in 1987.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer Kim Komenich

Jim and Johnny, San Francisco

I just got more sad news that my friend, legendary Rock & Roll Photographer, Jim Marshall, passed away last night in NY. I was just with Jim a few weeks back in San Francisco. He was the first photographer I recorded  for my Behind Photographs Project in Dec 2006. I clearly recall him looking at the 20×24 Polaroid camera and quickly telling me that I was “F****** Crazy”. I first met Jim at the Indy 500 while I was at a party photographing Paul Newman. When I was introduced to Jim, he shook my hand and we talked a bit about photography. He then handed me his card and told me to call him later that evening to meet up for a drink. He not only had an amazing eye, but an incredible ability to recall the stories behind his images. He was a living history book. Jim started his career in 1959 and worked with everyone in the early days of Rock and Roll. The Stones, Janice, The Dead, Dylan, The Who, The Beatles, Miles….and the list goes on. He will be dearly missed but his pictures will live on forever. www.marshallphoto.com

Morrison Hotel Gallery, New York for the opening of TRUST

Jim talking about his famous Johnny Cash shot with Michael Zagaris, myself and Tracy Storer

Behind Photographs show at Farmani Gallery

My 10 days in NY were a blur. A partial show of my photographer portraits opened at Farmani Gallery in Brooklyn. Elizabeth, Hossein and the Lucie Crew did an incredible job of getting the word out, thanks for your efforts and packing the house! The show featured 20×24 Polaroids of the Lucie Lifetime Award winners from my project and a wall of 8×10 images of the other photographers documented to date. I also took the 20×24 Polaroid Camera to Javits for the Photo Plus Expo and managed to shoot another 19 photographers for my Behind Photographs project. Mark Seliger, James Nachtwey, Michael Halsband, Bob Gruen, Joyce Tennison and Art Streiber were just a few who took the time to share their time and images. I will have their portraits up on my site in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone that came out to Dumbo and Javits, your support and enthusiasm is appreciated.

The photograph of the photographer (Henry Grossman), photographing the photographer (Alfred Wertheimer), photographing the photographer (Tim Mantoani) that photographed the photographers.

Over one hundred 8x10 portraits from the project on display at Farmani Gallery

They have been kind enough to feature my Behind Photographs project in the new issue. Enjoy and thanks for reading.

Must See: Compelling Web Sites, my was one of four mentioned and they featured two images from my Behind Photographs Project.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/must-17/?scp=1&sq=mantoani&st=cse

Special thanks to Miki Johnson and James Estrin for the kind words and helping to get the word out on my project.

Check out the newstand for the new issue of Triathlete Magazine. We shot the entire feature in Arizona. Special thanks to our host, The Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa.