LONDON.- Renowned LA based photographer Neal Preston has chosen
Snap Galleries in St James to host his first exhibition of photographs in London in January 2012. The exhibition will feature around 50 of Prestons most important rock & roll photographs.
With a career that has already spanned four decades, Preston sees no reason not to aim for a fifth. It all started in high school, as he recalls: "Some kids get behind the wheel of a car when they are 14 or 15, and they instinctively know what the clutch does, what the brakes do. When I got my first camera, I knew what to do
Preston is probably best known for his Led Zeppelin archive, and a book of his photographs of the band, Led Zeppelin: photographs by Neal Preston, was published by Omnibus in 2009 to international acclaim. Of Preston's photographs, Robert Plant said: "Whenever I see Neal shooting from the pit, I know his eye, I know hell be in the right place and when I see the photo later, it will often feel just like it felt to me onstage...except larger, with an echo of sound and fury.
Prestons archive goes broad, and deep, and the exhibition includes many of his famous portraits of internationally renowned artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, David Bowie, Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks, Bob Marley and Marc Bolan amongst others. Stepping temporarily outside the rock genre, Neal captured Frank Sinatra goosing Dean Martin during a 1988 Rat Pack performance.
Cameron Crowe, who worked with Preston in his formative years, summed it up when he said "Neals sheer knowledge and enthusiasm for the music brings out the magic in any musician lucky enough to be in front of his camera. He understands the reckless drive and merciless energy of a true artist. Hes one himself.