Glen Craig

Artist Information:

 Image Maker: Glen Craig

Graphic design informs my approach as a photographer in advertising campaigns, fashion editorials, portraiture, travel, the music industry and architecture. My visual language is influenced by my years as a graphic designer. I bring a playful and creative energy to all my projects.

My goal is to create a beautiful image that serves a purpose. Vibrant color is a central feature of my work. Whether I am directing a team through the production of a commercial or working as a solo photojournalist, illustrating the narrative of a story, I strive to make great work every day, and to enjoy myself doing it.

While studying at Parsons School of Design, I had the opportunity to expand the photography practice I had started in high school. An introduction to Gordon Parks, the legendary Life magazine photographer, grew into a treasured mentorship and opened a new world to me. I greatly valued his sage advice.

Diane Arbus and Benedict J. Fernandez, two legends of photography, impacted my work as early mentors. Other influences include photography masters Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Hiro, Earnest Hass, Pete Turner and Jay Maisel. I learned black-and-white printing from Garfield Lillard.

My image of B.B. King, then an emerging artist, on the cover of Cashbox Magazine in 1965 set the stage for my career in the music industry. I became Hullabaloo Magazine’s exclusive photographer, shooting Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Doors and The Who. I photographed Latin superstars Raphael, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz and countless others.

My work caught the attention of Sid Bernstein, the music promoter credited with bringing the British Invasion to America. I went on to work closely with Sid in a parallel career in music management, as an assistant, creative director, photographer, and press officer.
While I was working with B. B. King in the late 60’s, Columbia/CBS introduced me to Miles Davis in New York. Columbia wanted to help Davis cross over to a more mainstream audience. Miles established a personal relationship with me, which was unique at the time for a white photographer. We developed a trust that allowed me to photograph Miles in his home, at the gym, and his studio. I went on to photograph Miles in 1970 for Zygote Magazine, which ran an 18-page feature on the artist.

My published credits include work in The New York Times and International Editions, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, The Times of India, Time-Life, Paris Match, Faz, Welt, Zeit, Suddeutsche  Zeitung ,  Rolling Stone, USA, Germany ,UK., Italy, France,  Vogue, Esquire, GQ ,The New Yorker, Huffington Post, CNN / CNN International, MSNBC, The Economist, ABC News, BBC Radio 4, Yahoo News, CBS News, WPIX N.Y. News, Fox News, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Bloomberg Business, Changes Magazine, Zygote, Circus, Hullaballoo, Tiger Beat, Crawdaddy,  Beatles Magazine, NME, NPR, Guitar Player, Sadowsky  Guitars, Martin Guitars, Skylum Software, Air Mail, Downbeat, Swing Journal, Jazz Weekly, Jazz Wise,  Jzzit, The Nation, Relix, Mojo, Fader, Musik Express, Rocks-Magazin, Billboard, Cashbox, Record World, Ebony, The Berklee College of Music, Leica Fotographe International, Time-Warner Book Group, Time-Life Books, Bullfinch Press, Grove Atlantic Press, Epix Entertainment Network, Network Entertainment Canada, Fremantle Media, TPD Films, Lightbox Entertainment, Motto Pictures, Netflix, Apple TV, HBO, Universal Pictures Content Group, Sky Documentaries UK and Altitude UK.

My work appears on the following record labels: Atlantic Records, Virgin, A&M Records, Warner, Sony, and Universal Music Group. In addition to my photography, I have produced and shot print ads for Puerto Rico Board of Tourism, Gibson Guitar, Peru Board of Tourism, AT&T, and Southern Bell.

- Glen Craig

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