Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash

February 6, 2010 - May 23, 2010

Submit Your Photograph!
Have you taken a great rock 'n' roll photograph? Our new book and exhibition, Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs, features 98 images by 40 photographers, but we're looking for more great shots. Send us an unforgettable photograph that you've taken and tell us the story behind it. Where were you? What year was it? What were the circumstances? What makes it so memorable for you?

View a gallery of user-submitted rock 'n' roll photos, and then send us your own!


Photographs submitted by Friday, February 26th will be entered for a chance to win a copy of the book signed by Graham Nash and Elvis Costello! The winning photo will be selected by Nash. The winner will be notified via email by Friday, March 5th.
See photos from this exhibition >>

EMP|SFM is proud to present Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. This dynamic new exhibition, organized by Experience Music Project, showcases some of the most memorable photography in the history of popular music, as chosen by legendary musician Graham Nash of supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, who is also well-known as a photographer, collector and pioneer in digital imaging and printing.

As guest curator, Graham Nash, brings his rich musical history, keen eye and storytelling skills to an exhibition of 98 rock 'n' roll images taken by 40 of the world's greatest music photographers, including Anton Corbijn, Lynn Goldsmith, Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Francesco Scavullo and Nash himself.

While organizing the exhibition with Jasen Emmons, EMP's director of curatorial affairs, Nash considered thousands of images and received invaluable feedback from a curatorial advisory panel consisting of Deborah Klochko, executive director of the Museum of Photographic Arts; Sylvia Wolf, former photography curator at the Whitney and current director of the Henry Art Gallery; and Christian Peterson, associate curator of photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Nash selected what he considers to be great photographs that exemplify the spirit of rock 'n' roll, whether the artist is Elvis Presley, Sid Vicious or Johnny Cash. The images range from iconic shots to others that have never been published.

The exhibition includes an audio tour narrated by Nash. He shares insights about the images, artists and photographers, as well as his own connections to them.
Photos (Click on a thumbnail for a larger image)
Guided Discussion
Students 7-12 participate in a discussion of rock photography with trained staff or volunteers in the Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash exhibition. The guided discussion promotes critical thinking and communication skills using the Visual Thinking Strategies method . This opportunity is included with admission but availability is limited for this special pilot program. Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash
On November 11, 2009, Chronicle Books published a 128-page companion publication, Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. The book will feature all of the images from the exhibition, with text excerpts from Nash's audio tour, essays by Graham Nash and EMP's Curatorial Director, Jasen Emmons, and an audio CD of Nash's full audio tour. Traveling Exhibitions
Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash will travel to other venues starting in mid-2010.
More information >> Main image: Detail, Graham Nash Self-Portrait at the Plaza Hotel, New York, New York, September 1974. Courtesy Graham Nash.