Jim Marshall (Amelia Davis)
During the extraordinary rise of popular culture and counterculture in the Sixties, Jim Marshall seemed to be everywhere that mattered. Called the most celebrated and prolific photographer of the 20th century, Marshall is widely known for his iconic music photography. Because he lived life alongside his subjects and never betrayed their trust, he was granted unparalleled access. His images — from the breakout performances of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding at Monterey Pop, to unguarded backstage moments, to Johnny Cash's groundbreaking prison concerts at Folsom and San Quentin — are woven into the lore of the era. In a career that ended with his untimely death in 2010, Marshall shot more than 500 album covers; his photographs are held in private and museum collections around the world. Marshall's legacy lives on through Amelia Davis, his longtime personal assistant and the person he trusted above all others — upon his death, Marshall left his entire estate to Davis to carry on his work. As owner of Jim Marshall Photography LLC, Davis has edited ten Marshall monographs, curated yearly exhibitions of his photography, and was the driving force behind Marshall receiving a posthumous Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in 2014, honoring his extraordinary chronicling of music history throughout the twentieth century.
From the darkroom to the director's chair, women have long been shaping the visual language of our world. This panel brings together four artists who are doing exactly that, each in her own way.
A conversation on the preservation and study of photographic archives, the fine art print side of the industry, and the responsibility photographers have in preserving their own bodies of work. Bringing together practical, academic, and digital preservation perspectives, the panel covers how historical collections inform contemporary visual storytelling, how photographers choose labs, papers, and formats, and how print sales factor into a sustainable photography business.
Moderated by Amelia Davis, who managed Jim Marshall's archive for 13 years and inherited his estate, this panel traces the history of music photography from the golden era of rock to today, exploring how the business has shifted and what it takes to sustain a career documenting music culture. A candid look at the realities of building a sustainable career in music photography: when to charge, when not to, how to protect your work, and how to stay in the rooms that matter.
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