DANNY CLINCH ROCKS
An Exclusive PROVOKR Portfolio
A photographer who has deservedly made a name for himself as an artist both unflinching and illustrious, Danny Clinch has positioned himself at the forefront of the musically-centered photography world. Adeptly in tune to the subjects he photographs, Clinch has worked with a vast myriad of iconic artists such as Bob Dylan, Macklemore, Fleetwood Mac, Tim McGraw, Kanye West, Tupac Shakur, and Pearl Jam. Within the past 30 years, Clinch has continued to capture subjects in their most true-to-self elements, offering a perspective of artists in such a way that feels wholly confidential and intimate.
Born into the world in the 60s, Danny Clinch’s first musical tastes were derived from his parents’ love for names such as Elvis, Peggy Lee, Earth Angel, and Johnny Cash. Later, Clinch would find himself influenced by his best friend’s brother who showed him the musical ways of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Led Zeppelin, and others. Thus, Clinch discovered the immortal genre which would come to shape many aspects of his life and career: rock.
Yet, to call Clinch genre-fluid would be a gross understatement. There is no one genre that has defined his work, both in music as well as in the wider field of his photography, videography, and directing. From advertising to music videos, from sports photography to documentaries, he has mastered the art of many platforms. Danny Clinch spoke with Provokr, saying, “I love to document. I enjoy an artful take on capturing a moment, whether it’s stills or moving images. I think it’s the characters of any genre that are fun and I have been blessed by not being stuck in any genre.”
Clinch was fortunate enough to find his beginnings in photography shooting album cover art and packaging, an area in which he felt unrestrained by rules. Rising through the rungs, he would later come to photograph some of the legendary musicians whom he had initially been inspired by as a young person, such as Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen.
Creating photographs that are timeless, with unreservedly timeless subjects, Danny Clinch finds that he draws primarily from his emotions when working with his camera. Both fluid and deep-seated in his work, Clinch melds with his subjects in such a way that leaves the viewer feeling that the distance has been closed between themselves and the subject beyond the lens. When asked about photographing musicians without compromising their authenticity, Clinch stated, “It’s all story telling. If they are in their element, it speaks to the story.”
Most recently, Clinch has opened the immersive venue, the Transparent Gallery, in Asbury Park, New Jersey – “a place where people are encouraged to come hang out. It’s not a white glove gallery experience. It’s a bring your friends, family, your musical instruments, kid, and even dogs, type of place.” Now a stop on the Bruce Springsteen tour, the gallery revels in the art of both music and photography. When asked about his future plans, Clinch reflects on some of the more pure and simple things in life, such as surrounding himself in a community enveloped by friends, family, and his unequivocal love for music.
