An Exhibition, A Book, & A Camera

Lessons From Lenny Kravitz

Instead of getting frustrated I couldn't get out and shoot, shoot what was in front of me. That's life, you have to capture the moments that are there for you. -- Lenny Kravitz

Excuses are easy. As a photographer without the time, or access, or ability to make photographs of what's in your minds-eye. No matter if that perfect opportunity you so desire is the end-all-be-all fashion editorial or a scenic vista somewhere far away. We've all felt that way, we've all made such excuses for a lack of inspiration and a lack of producing work.

It's easy to imagine that someone like Lenny Kravitz could feel the same way. He may even resent of all of the people jostling for position to point cameras at him. Instead Kravitz made the pictures he could make. What's even better is that he spent the time and energy to produce a book and a gallery show that's been shown at Leica galleries across the world. The pictures didn't just hide on his hard drive.

The quote I opened up with is not something formulated by a publicist or a marketer. In fact I can't find that quote in any of Leica's press releases, product descriptions for the Lenny Kravitz Leica M kit, or any promotional material for the book. It's a one time, off-the-cuff thought from Lenny during his first exhibition opening.

Taking cynical point of view one could write this off as nothing but a celebrity endorsed money-grab. Sure, there was monetary incentive somewhere in this mix. I'm sure Leica enjoyed the traffic and profit from selling 125 monstrously priced Lenny K. M camera kits with two lenses. Ask yourself if there are easier and more profitable ways that cross his manager's or publicist's desk every ten seconds. His project is interesting, the photographs are good, and they certainly were not produced overnight in some ill thought out marketing scheme. Too bad it's a bit late to grab a copy of the book given the crazy pricing of copies five years later. I'd love one but not at the current going rate.

I doubt there are any literal rock stars that are part of our little community. I doubt any of us are even close to figurative rock stars. We'll most likely not get a deal to publish a book, present in a Leica gallery, and certainly not design a camera. Is that why any of us make photographs? Probably not. There's plenty of opportunities for small scale self-publishing of books and photographic exhibitions locally. More on those things another day. But, for now, as Kravitz would say, ..."get out there and shoot... capture the moments that are there for you."

Disclaimer: Lenny Kravitz is on my top 10 list of coolest people on the planet for a lot of reasons, this is just another reason.

By: R W Boyer