Ron Pownall

b.1948
Ron Pownall got his start in photography in Chicago, shooting The Rolling Stones in 1966 with a Kodak Instamatic camera.  In 1968 he landed a summer job with the Chicago Tribune, going full-time after graduation, and shot the riots at the Democratic Convention in Chicago. His first music assignments were Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Cream.

In 1970 Pownall moved to Boston. He started working with Aerosmith in 1973 and with the band Boston in 1976, relationships that lasted 30+ years. He also linked-up with Elton John, Queen, Liza Minelli, J.Giels Band, The Cars, Meatloaf & Ted Nugent, doing album, publicity and tour photography.  At the same time, doing assignment work for Rolling Stone, Creem, Circus and Hit Parader magazines, as well as CBS, Epic & WEA record labels.

As the music business changed in the late 1980s, Pownall shifted focus to more freelance work, he has continued working with Boston and fondly remembers the thrill of shooting live concerts.  

"There is nothig as rewarding as capturing a split second of high energy, be it Springsteen, Mick or a club band. I was lucky to have had the full access I did in the early, "Golden Days" of Rock Photography, when the music was the bottom line."