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| Courtesy
Photo / Schwegweb.com |
Over the years of Rock 'N'
Roll journalism there haven’t been many music photographers
that have made such a lasting visual impression in the industry
as Ross Halfin. Covering almost every act in the hard rock
industry including such influential bands as The Who, Black
Sabbath, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith to name but
just a few Ross Halfin is a true artist to be respected. His
in your face gritty look into the world of rock 'n' roll off
stage has always been a big influence on my objective to “get
the shot”. Sure Mr. Halfin has a legendary history of
being hard to work with but in this industry it seems that
you have to be tough as nails and Ross Halfin is by all means
that. Where bands, record labels and managements at times
can make your experience anything but enjoyable Mr. Halfin
deserves the highest respect for sticking it out so long in
this vicious industry.
Lately Mr. Halfin’s web site has become quit the attraction
for many music fans due to his “tell it how it is”
diary. Halfin has one of the most brutally honest and intriguing
insights on his career working with the artists we oh so love.
I read it religiously for his incredibly insightful entries
that tend to always have a great sense of humor which is hard
to find in this business.
When I threw the idea out to my editor of this site I remember
the feeling was very mutual that my request for an interview
would probably never been returned. Much to my surprise I
received a return from Ross himself. I couldn’t believe
it. Well, very big thanks must go out to one of the finest
masters of his craft, Ross Halfin for giving us the chance
to put this little piece together and I hope you enjoy.
Schwegweb: As brutal
as the music business can be how have you remained so interested
in music photography for so many years and what keeps you
motivated?
Ross Halfin: "What keeps me motivated is paying
my mortgage... No, seriously, I enjoy what I do."
I, being a photographer, have always had other photographers
around to push me to do better, to look at subject matters
in a different way, to get a different angle to an image
and to push me in general. Have you had anyone around to
help you grow in your photography skills, to push you to
do better? If you didn't do you wish you did?
"No one needs to push me to be better.You
should always look to improve what you do."
Your diary on your web site is very honest and personal
insight into your day to day life, have you found many artists
to take offense to your posts and as well are you surprised
that it has become as popular as it has?
" My diary is very toned down. If it appeared unedited
no one would work with me... And yes it does offend a lot
of band members, especially singers."
In your bio you state "Getting the subject
matter to co-operate is ninety percent of the task",
which I have to agree with you. Who have you found to be
the no-cooperative ones, newer bands or older bands?
"Non co-operative bands tend to be newer bands
who have become succesful straight away. Creed are a prime
example."
Unlike most of the bands you have covered in your
career you seem to have survived the lifestyles that have
surrounded you very well, has it been hard to separate work
from fun when being in the middle of such a destructive
atmosphere?
"Survive the lifestyle? You get older and
realise how stupid you've been."
It seems in today's music industry labels are looking
for that instant hit and no longer help artists mature and
grow as they did in the past, has there been any artists
lately that have made a lasting impression as maybe somebody
that may have longevity, say like a Zeppelin or a Black
Sabbath?
"No new artist has made a lasting impression. Mastadon
aren't bad. There again they're just a heavy version of
Rush."
In your lengthy career you have photographed some
of the biggest musicians in rock n roll, do you find it
funny when you still run into the egos that are so rampant
in this industry and how are you still able to work in these
situations?
"Take command of what you're doing. Don’t
buy into the bullshit."
It seems that labels/managements/etc are looking
for cheap images not quality images. How has the market,
changed or hasn't changed, from when you started to now,
in the sense of price of an image over quality of the image?
"Record companies always want something for
nothing. It's been like that from day one."
What has kept you from making the transition from
film/slide over to digital and has digital helped or harmed
photography as an art form?
"The reason I haven't made the transition to digital
is because I know nothing about it. There again I know nothing
about photography anyway. And yes I think it has harmed
photography as an art form."
With all the contracts and waivers that are involved
these days by artist managements is there any rules/demands
that you have that make your job any easier (time schedule
needed/ amount of live songs needed) to get the job done?
"I do not sign contracts or waivers and I
do not shoot three songs. You cannot get anything worhwhile
- hire someone else."
What would you like to be remembered for the most
when you decide to hang up the camera as a music photographer
if you ever choose to?
"I'd like to
be remembered as a kind, well-mannered, humble man."
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