Tom Copi’s image of Iggy Pop pointing into the crowd was name by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best rock photos of 1970’s. Sonic Editions sat down with Copi to hear more about his journey into photography. Read the full interview below…
SE: You have shot some major moments in music history, when was it you knew you wanted to be a photographer?
TC: As a reporter/writer for my college newspaper, The Michigan Daily, I was assigned to cover the state government, which contributed a lot of money to the University’s budget. I could not get one of the staff photographers to travel with me to Lansing, Michigan, the state capital, to photograph the legislature and the governor, George Romney, so the photo editor showed me how to use one of the Daily cameras and I became a photographer on that day. I really had no ambition to become a photographer, but when I realized how fun and easy it was, I made the switch from writer to photojournalist. Later, I became photo editor of the Daily and then the Michigan Yearbook, the Michiganensian.
SE: Do you have a favourite camera to shoot with?
TC: The first camera I used at the Daily was a Nikomat. The standard at that time for photojournalists was the Nikon F, which I obtained when I could finally afford one. I have occasionally used other cameras, but consider myself a loyal Nikon user. When digital cameras became the new standard, I got a Nikon D70. Later, I added a Nikon D90 to my kit. I also use Nikkor lenses almost exclusively. Many photojournalists, especially those covering sports, switched over to Canon, but I stayed with Nikon.
SE: You have captured some major names in music from Joni Mitchell to Ray Charles, John Lennon to Miles Davis and so many more, who is your favourite artist to shoot?
TC: Two of my favorite subjects were drummer Art Blakey and saxophonist Sonny Rollins, both very demonstrative and dynamic players; and of course Miles Davis, who was constantly posing while playing and even while not playing. So What!
SE: Out of all your images in your gallery on Sonic Editions, which one is your favourite and why?
TC: My favorite photo from the Sonic Editions collection has to be Iggy Pop crowd-surfing during the 1970 Cincinnati pop festival. It was commended by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top Rock Artist Photos of the 1970’s.
SE: What inspires you?
TC: I was inspired by the excellence and innovation of the jazz musicians, whether playing for huge stadium crowds or in small, intimate club settings. Rock concerts and Festivals were always a lot of fun and filled with interesting shots of popular and picturesque artists.
SE: Who is your favourite photographer?
TC: Richard Avedon, especially his dye transfer pix of the Beatles.
SE: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into photography?
TC: Try to have a clear idea of where you want your pictures to be published, and pursue connections with photo editors and art directors to make it happen. Taking the pictures is the fun and easy part of being a photographer. Selling them, the business end, is the hard part. There is lots and lots and lots of competition. Start by taking great pictures, but know that even great pictures are sometimes hard to sell.
SE: Which photograph do you wish you had taken?
TC: I had an opportunity to photograph the Beatles during a press conference at the Detroit Airport, but sadly for me the press conference was cancelled. Later, I was able to photograph a post-Beatles John Lennon during his appearance with Yoko Ono and others at the Free John Sinclair Benefit in Ann Arbor.
Head to Tom Copi’s gallery to find more on iconic Rock and Festival images!