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Michael Putland Portrait Photography

British, 1947-2019
Michael Putland photographed everyone from Abba to Zappa. Born on May 27, 1947, Putland grew up in Harrow, England. He took his first pictures at the age of nine before leaving school at 16 to work as an assistant to various photographers including "Time-Life" photographer Walter Curtin and the legendary motor racing photographer, Louis Klemantaski. In 1969, Putland set up his own studio, and, by 1971, he was the official photographer for the British music magazine "Disc & Music Echo." His first assignment that year was to photograph Mick Jagger in London. From the editorial work for "Disc & Music Echo," "Sounds," "Smash Hits" and "Q" magazine among others, to the 1973 tour with The Rolling Stones, which led to a long-standing working relationship with the band, Putland shot prodigiously including for several major record labels: CBS, Warner, Elektra, Polydor, Columbia Records and EMI. Upon relocating to New York in 1977, Putland founded the photo agency Retna with his long-term business partner and friend, Julie Grahame, which became one of the most comprehensive and respected music and celebrity image libraries in the world, with offices in New York and London. Music photography took Putland around the globe touring with acts as diverse as George Michael in Australia and Japan, The Cure in Brazil, Eric Clapton in the United States, and The Rolling Stones in the United States and Europe, as well as to the homes of artists including David Bowie, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Roger Daltry, Jeff Beck, Billy Joel, Keith Richards and Robert Plant. The last 10 years of Putland’s life were busy with a series of exhibitions that included Getty Gallery’s 50-year retrospective in 2014. Ono Arte in Bologna, Italy, hosted "Bowie before Ziggy" in 2016 and "Glad to be Glam" in 2018. Elliott Halls in Amsterdam curated "It’s been a fantastic ride" in 2018, and The Lucy Bell Gallery in Hastings, England, exhibited "Off The Record" in 2017 and "The Music I Saw" in 2019. In his later years, Putland continued to shoot the artists he admired and the music he loved, including jazz, classical and world musicians who provided an alternative to his rock music portfolio. The year 2017 saw Putland shooting the largest gig of his life, from a helicopter circling the crowd of 225,000 fans of the Italian rock giant, Vasco Rossi, at Modena Park in Italy— a world record for a ticketed concert. The year 2019 brought the launch of his 350-page book "The Music I Saw," with exhibitions and signings at Paul Smith shops in London and New York. In June of that year Putland was still doing what he loved, working with a team he respected, shooting at the vast San Siro stadium in Milan. He died at home after a short illness on November 18, 2019.
(Biography provided by Rosenbaum Contemporary)
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Artist: Michael Putland
The Who Pete Townshend 1979 - signed limited edition
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Pete Townshend of the Who Madison Square Garden New York 1979 Large Oversize limited edition (ed size 15 only this size) and signed silver gelatin print. paper size 40x30" inches / 101 x 76 cm Certificate of authenticity supplied. About Michael Putland the photographer : Born in 1947, Michael grew up in Harrow where he took his first pictures at the age of nine before leaving school at sixteen to work as an assistant to various photographers including Time-Life photographer, Walter Curtain and the legendary motor racing photographer, Louis Klemantaski. In 1969 he set up his own studio and by 1971, he was the official photographer for the British music magazine Disc & Music Echo. His first assignment for them that year was to photograph Mick Jagger in London. From the editorial work for Disc and Music Echo, Sounds and later Smash Hits & Q magazine amongst others, to the 1973 tour with The Rolling Stones that led to a long-standing relationship working with the band, Michael has shot prodigiously including for major record labels including CBS, Warner, Elektra, Polydor, Columbia Records and EMI. Relocating to New York in 1977, it was here that Michael founded the photo agency, Retna. It has been said that Michael photographed everyone from Abba to Zappa … when looking at his archive this is actually true. Now living in East Sussex, recent 2016 exhibitions include “Off The Record” at The Lucy Bell Gallery in Hastings showing images both on and off stage including previously unseen contact sheets; whilst Ono Arte in Bologna, Italy is hosting a David Bowie show. Autumn 2014 saw Michael’s 50 year retrospective at the Getty Gallery in London: “A life in Music, 50 Years On The Road”. Snap Gallery in London’s Piccadilly Arcade regularly have a selection of Michael’s work on show. Michael continues to shoot the artists he most admires – likely to be jazz, classical and world musicians, who have always provided an alternative narrative to his rock music portfolio. “It has been a fantastic ride through an incredible period of music history, which combined my two great loves … music and photography. Little did I appreciate, when my Uncle Alan encouraged my photography back in the 1950s, that this would lead me to photographing nearly all of my heroes … and thrilled to be still finding new ones. A great never ending journey.” Michael Putland About The Who : Few rock & roll bands were riddled with as many contradictions as the Who. All four members had wildly different personalities, as their notorious live performances demonstrated: Keith Moon fell over his drum kit while Pete Townshend leaped into the air with his guitar, spinning his right hand in exaggerated windmills. Vocalist Roger Daltrey prowled the stage as bassist John...
Category

1970s Modern Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Jimi Hendrix" framed photograph by Michael Putland from the original Hard Rock
By Michael Putland
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Jimi Hendrix" framed black and white photograph by Michael Putland of Jimi Hendrix at the July 6, 1968, Woburn Music Festival in England. Image size: 19 1/2 x 15 1/4 inches. This p...
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1960s Contemporary Michael Putland Portrait Photography

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Photographic Paper

"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed photograph by Michael Putland
By Michael Putland
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed black and white photograph by Michael Putland of Jimi Hendrix at the July 6, 1968, Woburn Music Festival in England. "Jim at Woburn Festival 19...
Category

1960s Contemporary Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed B&W photograph by Michael Putland
By Michael Putland
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed black and white photograph by Michael Putland of Jimi Hendrix at the July 6, 1968, Woburn Music Festival in England. "Jimi at Woburn Festival 1...
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1960s Contemporary Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Jimi Hendrix" framed photograph from Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
By Michael Putland
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Jimi Hendrix" framed black and white photograph by Michael Putland. Image size: 19 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches. This photo was previously displayed in a guest room of the original Hard Rock...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed B&W photograph by Michael Putland
By Michael Putland
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Jimi at Woburn Festival 1968" framed black and white photograph by Michael Putland of Jimi Hendrix at the July 6, 1968, Woburn Music Festival in England. "Jimi at Woburn Festival 19...
Category

1960s Contemporary Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Bob, Mick and Pete, 1978 - Oversize Estate Edition
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Bob, Mick and Pete, by Michael Putland, 1978 Limited Estate Edition Bob Marley, Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh backstage after the Rolling Stones concert at th...
Category

20th Century Modern Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

Bob, Mick and Pete, 1978 - Oversize Estate Edition
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Bob, Mick and Pete, by Michael Putland, 1978 Limited Estate Edition Bob Marley, Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh backstage after the Rolling Stones concert at th...
Category

20th Century Modern Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

Marc Bolan T Rex Timeless - Estate Print
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Marc Bolan of T Rex at Le Chateux recording studio France 1972 Large Oversize limited edition (ed size 20 only this size) and signed silver gelatin print....
Category

1970s Modern Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bob, Mick and Pete, 1978 - Oversize Estate Edition
By Michael Putland
Located in London, GB
Bob, Mick and Pete, by Michael Putland, 1978 Limited Estate Edition Bob Marley, Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh backstage after the Rolling Stones concert...
Category

20th Century Modern Michael Putland Portrait Photography

Materials

Black and White, Silver Gelatin

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Bob, Mick and Pete, 1978 - Oversize Estate Edition
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Bob, Mick and Pete, 1978 - Oversize Estate Edition
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Michael Putland, Bob Mick and Pete, 1978. Signed Edition.
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Michael Putland portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Michael Putland portrait photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Michael Putland in paper, photographic paper, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Michael Putland portrait photography, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Graham Nash, John French, and Reg Lancaster. Michael Putland portrait photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,050 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $3,000.

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