Punk was no different in fact it was an intensely visual experience and as such lent itself perfectly to the medium of photography. Truth in pictures and truth in words however did not necessarily amount to the same thing as Jill Furmanovsky points out in the feature on her and there was still a conflict between punk realism and the glossy airbrushed images of pop dreams. It was also possibly the first and last youth movement where its followers were as photogenic as the bands and in the initial stages received equal prominence. No book on punk is complete without the famous punk photos from the era and its the same for this site. This site uses images from all the photographers below (without gain).
The following is to acknowledge this and to recognise their part in the rise of punk rock. Some of these photographers were seasoned pros, others got into it by chance but for the most part it was right place right time. With there being only 3 music papers at the time, Melody Maker, New musical Express and Sounds, and the fanzine Sniffing Glue image was important to define your genre of music. All the below contributed pictures to the aforementioned as freelancers. Its gratifying to note that there's a fair amount of women photographers . Click on the punk images for larger versions.
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| Ray Stevenson | Erica Echenberg | Adrian Boot |
| Previously worked for underground papers like Oz and International Times and photographed stars like Marc Bolan and David Bowie before disillusioned went in semi retirement. All this changed in 1976 when he and his brother Nils went to work for the Pistols. Like I said right place right time and his photos capture all the major figures and bands in the beginning of punk and featured in the major weekly music papers. It made his fortune as later books like 'The Sex Pistols File', 'Vacant'and the recent Punk Book all use his pics. | In my view one of the best of the bunch. Worked as photographer for Sniffing Glue and is responsible both for straightforward pictures of all the bands at the time and also importantly for the punks and punkettes who were an integral part of the scene . All the books of the time, 1999 - A Punk Explosion, Punk Rock, Punk , Not Another Punk Book and In the Gutter used her pictures as did the daily tabloids for their shock horror stories and quite rightly so. In punk the fans were as important as the bands. See her work in 'And God created Punk' & 'Glue The Essential Punk Accessory' | Regular contributor to the NME and perhaps best known for the series of photographs of the Pistols with Rotten dressed as a teddy boy complete with quiff. He wrote in 1977 " A single live photograph can be worth its weight in advertising space- yet it is within the technology of any amateur." His photos feature in 'Punk: The Illustrated History Of A Musical Revolution' |
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| Johnny Rotten | Punks & Punkettes At The Roxy | Johnny Rotten |
| Ian Dickson. Freelance photographer and contributor to Sounds. His photo of Mr Rotten graces said persons autobiography No Blacks, Dogs or Irishmen. A fine selection of photographs are in the recently released book Flash Bang Wallop! Great action photos of The Jam | Arri Up - The Slits |
| The Clash | Denis O'Regan. Photography was a side line for this contributor to Sounds and the like and featured all the main protagonists. Some of the most memorable being the Anti Nazi league Rally his photos of the Clash and Sid Vicious. Collection of Photos in Images Of Punk |
| Mick Mercer. Erstwhile creator of fanzine Panache and later editor of Zigzag. Some great pictures of lesser known bands. Johnny Curious to the more famous Slits. Currently selling his collection of photos on cd rom. | Gaye Advert - The Adverts | |
| Credit to the following as well. I know sod all about you so email me .... Walt Davidson, Peter Kodick, Ralf Jedraszczyk, Derek Ridgers, Steven Davis, Crystal Clear, Humphrey Murray, Richard Braine | ||
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