Award-winning photographer Michael Donald photographs The Rolling Stones...
In 2010 the Rolling Stones made the film, Stones in Exile, to coincide with the re-release of the 1972 album Exile on Main Street. Acclaimed photographer Michael Donald was commission to do some stills for the film, "I saw it as an opportunity to shoot some proper portraits of the band, i didnt think the band would normally agree to sit for individual portraits like this so it was a very exciting project to work on."These photographs were were taken on set, providing a unique perspective on the individuals that form the biggest band in the world.
Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts were shot at Stargroves, the house Mick owned in the 1970’s where the band often recorded during this time. Keith Richards was photographed in New York and Ronnie Wood in London (Ronnie Woods photograph is hand signed by Ronnie). The resulting images typify his photographic style, his subjects at once candid and personal, complex in their simplicity. The results of the photo shoots are a portfolio of four evocative images that reflect each of the band members personalities - the years of the rock n roll lifestyle coupled with the dignified look of elder statesmen - and, in fact, the photograph of drummer Charlie Watts was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in 2010 as part of the Taylor Wessing prize. Michael Donald comments "as a photographer you are always after something different - a tiny peek of the real person behind the veneer...they look amazing, they arnt trying to look young, they are true rock n rollers and utterly professional".These four stunning signed silver gelatin prints are available in the following formats; standard edition of 50, medium edition of 50, and large edition of 25 individually or as complete sets. Multi-award winning Michael Donald has shot commissions for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Observer, and The Guardian Weekend magazines. His work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Most recently he was involved in the film “I Scored a Goal in the FIFA World Cup Final“. Since its inception in 1930 only 56 people have scored a goal in the World Cup Final. Of those 35 are alive today. It includes bathroom salesman Dick Nanninga, vintner Paulo Rossi, and retired insurance salesman Martin Peters. It does not include Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, David Beckham, or Lionel Messi. It is the most exclusive club in football. Donald came up with the idea of tracking them all down, photographing, filming and interviewing them. It took a while. The resulting film , “I Scored a Goal in the FIFA World Cup Final“, was broadcast worldwide on ESPN, was nominated for an EMMY and won a Webby. A clip from the film can be seen above. The photographs from this film were featured in The Sunday Times Magazine last Sunday. To view the collection