A unique rock-photography website has just been launched, offering high quality limited edition rock'n roll prints.

Rockarchive.com aims to accord dignity and recognition to the art of photography and maintain the rights of its practitioners and contains work by Gered Mankowitz, Storm Thorgeson, Barrie Wentzell, Fernando Aceves, and Matt Anker.

Its founder, acclaimed music photographer, Jill Furmanovksy, is showing her own work on the site and the work of five top-class photographers.

Jill Furmanovksy was brought up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and moved to London in 1965 in time for Beatlemania, snapping Paul McCartney for her first rock shot.

She became unpaid official photographer at 1970s' rock venue, The Rainbow after only two week's photographic training.

She has photographed stars including Eric Clapton, Blondie, The Stones, The Police, Led Zeppelin and also made videos for Oasis and The Pretenders. Her portrait of Jeff Buckley, 1994, at legendary folk club, Bunjies, conveys a sadness that almost seems a prophecy of his impending death.

Furmanovsky has won many accolades including The Jane Bown Observer Portrait Award for her classic Charlie Watts portrait in 1992 and Woman of the Year for Music in 1998.

Gered Mankowitz and Storm Thorgeson are two of the most respected names in the world of rock art. Mankowitz captured the 60s like no other photographer. His candid shots of The Stones, Hendrix and many more caught on film the spirit of the decade.

Many claim Storm Thorgeson is the sixth member of Pink Floyd, his artwork adorns many of the groups classic album covers, including Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.

Barrie Wentzell had his break by photographing a young Diana Ross for Melody Maker in the early 1960s' and went on to photograph John & Yoko.

Fernando Aceves, has taken numerous stars including Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, as well as Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, which he describes as one of the most powerful images in his career, "like an Aztec warrior".

Matt Anker's first job was as assistant to Jill Furmanovsky and he photographed Nirvana, "which blew him away" and others including Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Orb and Massive Attack.

So for great rock and roll images why not check out www.

rockarchive.com?

December 28, 2001 15:35