BORN IN CALIFORNIA, 1950
American photographer illustrator and designer Ed Caraeff has become one of the most acclaimed photographers to have worked in the music industry.
AN EARLY START
At fifteen years old, whilst studying photography at high school, music photography was introduced to Caraeff by fortuity. His school was just two miles from Los Angeles International Airport and he would make the short trip during his lunch break to take pictures. When psychedelic garage rock band The Seeds passed through the airport on their way home from tour, Caraeff was there to capture the moment. He was approached by a woman who handed him her card, asked to see the developed photographs, and opened up his path to music photography before he had even thought to seek it.
Less than two years later Caraeff's photography was already in record stores, on the album cover for another LA psychedelic band, Strawberry Alarm Clock.
PICTURING A GENERATION
Caraeff went on to work with an illustrious roster of subjects including Iggy Pop, Elton John, Tom Petty and Dolly Parton. His photography from the late '60s and 1970s captures the diverse creativity in the music scene of the time.
Building on his renown as a photographer Caraeff expanded into Art Direction, whilst still going his own darkroom work; developing film in both b&w and colour, and making his own prints.
"When my family went to sleep, I'd make a cup of coffee and I'd go down in the darkroom, where I had a great sound system and a good safe light, you know, not just a red bulb. It was all comfortable for me, and I worked until four in the morning, all the time." In conversation with Benjamin Purper for KCBX.
His talent, and hands on involvement in every stage of the process, cultivated a reputation in the industry that negated the need for an agent, portfolio, business card, or even a listed phone number.
When he stepped away from his camera in the early 80s, to focus on raising his children, Caraeff left an exceptional legacy: four Rolling Stone magazine covers, a place in the permanent collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and more than 400 album covers.
