A Matchless Pairing of Photographers

Alice Cooper, captured by legendary photographer Jim Marshall in Denver, 1972. Described as a cross between Henri Cartier-Bresson and Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Marshall was renowned for freezing on film the passion, artistry and humanity of musicians in ways few had. One of his biggest fans was fellow photographer Timothy White, a celebrated photographer of celebrities.

White told CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason that their long friendship began with White's picture of actor Robert Mitchum (taken in Santa Barbara in 1988), "which Jim just loved. He just really loved this picture a lot. And then, of course, [he] pulled out [his] image of Jim Morrison that was just uncanny. Just, you know, it was the exact same position, holding the cigarette the same way."

The Doors' front man Jim Morrison, taken by Marshall at the Northern California Folk Rock Festival in San Jose, 1968.

As they went through each other's work, White and Marshall noticed more and more commonalities in who they'd shot, and how: "It went on for years. It was like, 'Oh, you shot so-and-so? I shot so-and-so, let me show you.'"

Aretha Franklin by Jim Marshall in San Francisco, 1970.

Marshall was born in Chicago in 1936 and grew up in San Francisco. Beginning in 1960, his iconic images were featured in rock and jazz publications and magazine features, and on more than 500 album covers. He also did documentary work of the 1960s civil rights movement.

Aretha Franklin by Timothy White in Detroit, 1996.

White is an award-winning celebrity portrait photographer. Over the past two decades his work has appeared in magazines (Vanity Fair, Vogue, Esquire, Playboy, and Rolling Stone), advertising, and on movie posters and album covers.

Jim Marshall's picture of Ray Charles, backstage at Longshoreman's Hall, San Francisco, 1960.

Ray Charles as captured by Timothy White, Culver City, Calif., 1991.

Robert Plant in 1970, at the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles.

Actress Nicole Kidman, 2003.

Two leading members in the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, photographed in San Francisco, 1964.

PE_Timothy_White_George_Clooney_and_Brad_Pitt_and_Matt_Damon.jpg — Timothy White

If there is a 21st century incarnation of the Rat Pack, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are surely it. The trio were photographed in Burbank in 2006.

Bob Dylan Kicking a Tire, New York City, 1963.

Julia Roberts, among tires in New York, 1998.

John Lennon, before the August 29, 1966 show at San Francisco's Candlestick Park — the Beatles' last concert appearance.

Julian Lennon, New York, 1986.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash listening to music at their Hendersonville, Tenn., home in 1969.

Paul and Linda McCartney, Chicago, 1989.

Little Richard backstage at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium, 1971.

James Brown, Augusta, Ga., 1991.

Theolonius Monk at the Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, Calif., September 21, 1963.

Jimmy Cliff, photographed by Timothy White in New York City, 1987.

Marshall died on March 24, 2010, shortly before his latest book, "Match Print," was to be released. White and Marshall did get a chance to sign books together just before he died. Then Jim signed one for Timothy: "And he just wrote, 'To my little bro.' and then, 'Copycat' underneath it, which I thought was kind of great."

For more info:
"Match Prints" by Timothy White, Jim Marshall (HarperCollins)
timothywhite.com
marshallphoto.com
dannyclinch.com