Illusionist and endurance artist,
David Blaine is known for his high-profile feats of endurance.
The 39-year old Brooklyn native is a mesmerizing performer
of street and close-up magic,
and holds several world endurance records.
The Brooklyn-born illusionist is an avid enthusiast of innovators and risk-takers in all the arts. So, curating his selection of favorite images from Rock Paper Photo's online collections, David drew inspiration from photographs depicting dazzling showmen like Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Muhammed Ali, and iconoclasts from Jim Morrison to the Beastie Boys. Much like him, each of these artists knows how to stop a crowd dead in its tracks.
In the summer of 1988, the Beastie Boys rented a house in the Hills of LA while cutting their second album, “Paul's Boutique.” The band flew out photographer Ricky Powell to hang out and shoot. Ricky took this shoot, which appeared on the album sleeve, from Adrock's bedroom which looked right into the middle of the pool, underwater.
May Pang was John Lennon’s lover
when she took this shot in 1973
while the pair was crashing
at Lou Adler's house in Bel Air.
May had been John and Yoko’s personal
assistant. John famously called their
18-month affair his “lost weekend.”
when she took this shot in 1973
while the pair was crashing
at Lou Adler's house in Bel Air.
May had been John and Yoko’s personal
assistant. John famously called their
18-month affair his “lost weekend.”
When “The Greatest” walked to his seat at the LA Forum
in 1979, photographer Brad Elterman vividly recalls
seeing the entire crowd stand on its feet to honor
the champion with a standing ovation.
“It was truly a moving experience.
I stood nearby for as long as I could to get this shot.
It was not easy with all the security guards around, but
nothing was going to stop me from getting this photo,”
says the photographer.
in 1979, photographer Brad Elterman vividly recalls
seeing the entire crowd stand on its feet to honor
the champion with a standing ovation.
“It was truly a moving experience.
I stood nearby for as long as I could to get this shot.
It was not easy with all the security guards around, but
nothing was going to stop me from getting this photo,”
says the photographer.
A young Fiona Apple
stakes out a Central Park bench
in New York City in 1996.
stakes out a Central Park bench
in New York City in 1996.
Photographer Michael Zagaris has been shooting
in San Francisco since legendary concert pro-
moter Bill Graham took the young photographer
under his wing in the early 70s. He photographed
Graham with Francis Ford Coppola
and Marlon Brando there in 1975.
in San Francisco since legendary concert pro-
moter Bill Graham took the young photographer
under his wing in the early 70s. He photographed
Graham with Francis Ford Coppola
and Marlon Brando there in 1975.
“When I was taking pictures for Snoop’s debut album,
‘Doggystyle,' he wanted to create an image with the
California 187 highway sign in the background,”
says photographer Chi Modu. “In Los Angeles police
code, 187 is the code for murder.”
‘Doggystyle,' he wanted to create an image with the
California 187 highway sign in the background,”
says photographer Chi Modu. “In Los Angeles police
code, 187 is the code for murder.”
Finishing a record label shoot on a Bed-
Stuy street corner in 1991, Christopher
Wallace (aka Notorious BIG) asked photog-
rapher George DuBose to shoot the young
rapper with his posse. “Please don’t point
the Uzi at the camera, Mr. Wallace,” urged
the photographer.
Stuy street corner in 1991, Christopher
Wallace (aka Notorious BIG) asked photog-
rapher George DuBose to shoot the young
rapper with his posse. “Please don’t point
the Uzi at the camera, Mr. Wallace,” urged
the photographer.
