Danny Clinch: Legends of Photography

Continuing our Legends Of Photography series, this week Andy welcomes renowned music photographer Danny Clinch to the show! Danny has shot and filmed a wide range of artists, from Johnny Cash to Tupac Shakur, from Bjork to Bruce Springsteen, with his work appearing on hundreds of album covers and in publications like Vanity Fair, Spin, Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, and more. Danny is also a three-time Grammy nominated director, a publisher of four books, founder of the Transparent Clinch Gallery, a member of the Tangiers Blues Band, and a partner and promoter of the Sea.Hear.Now music, surfing, and arts festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Hear Andy & Danny talk about sports photography vs. music photography, how Danny got his start, the secret to his style, why music is his passion, shooting on 4×5, the story behind his Bruce Springteen shoot in a blizzard (which was later chosen as the “Letter To You” album cover!), his book “Danny Clinch: Still Moving“, the genesis of his gallery “The Transparent Clinch Gallery,” his “Sea.Hear.Now” music festival which began in 2018, as well as Andy’s contributions to revolutionizing NBA photography!

Other Topics Discussed in this Episode:

2:45   Danny’s approach to photographing athletes and musicians

4:23   Danny’s mom, his start in photography and the family moment he captured and realized photography might be his calling.

7:36   Danny and Andy both reflect on working with portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz

8:45   Danny’s photography style, his influences, and how he develops a connection with his subjects. 

18:05   Photographing Tupac Shakur and other hip hop artists before anyone knew who they or the genre were

26:50   The story behind Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You album cover

35:37   Danny’s book, Still Moving, which chronicles his illustrious career with more than 200 photographs of the most important musicians of all time, along with his personal anecdotes and a written contribution by Bruce Springsteen. 

38:08     Transparent Clinch Gallery

41:50   See.Hear.Now Festival

48:10   Danny reflects on directing Let’s Play Two, a documentary about Pearl Jam’s legendary performances at Wrigley Field during the Chicago Cubs historic 2016 season, meeting Coach Joe Madden and being at Game 7 with Eddie Vedder

54:45   Tricks of the trade – Andy talks about setting up remote cameras and Danny discusses hardwiring concerts

56:04   Andy recalls shooting the LA Sports Arena’s last show ever (Bruce Springsteen)