Biography
James Fuller's photographs were featured in the coffee table book Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005. Fuller majored in photography at Hobart College, and went on to study with a varied group of photographers including Ansel Adams, Judy Darter, Elliott Erwitt, Steven Gersh, Ray Metzker, Eugene Richards, and Garry Winogrand. After working in documentary photography in the 1970s, Fuller has since worked almost exclusively in Large Format landscape photography.
The Story Behind the Photographs
Years ago I was in exactly the right place at just the right time. An unknown guitarist from Asbury Park, New Jersey was filling in at the last second for the ailing Richie Havens for our Hobart College Fall Concert. Most of us showed up, because what else was there to do in Geneva, New York on a Friday night? In other rock'n'roll performers I had seen brief glimpses of the power, beauty, and drama of rock'n'roll, but on this night in this young Springsteen I saw it all distilled in the raw talent of an emerging artist. He killed the place and in a day when encores were not routine. The college crowd, who had barely known his name two hours earlier, nearly rioted, demanding three encores. An energized Springsteen closed the night with "Twist and Shout." There are those who say Bruce did not truly develop as an artist and performer until "Born to Run" but they are wrong. He had it all that night.
I was developing my craft as a photographer and every chance I had for the next two years, I photographed Springsteen in concert, trying to capture the intensity and urgency I saw in Bruce. During one show, Bruce's manager, Mike Appel, tapped me on the shoulder and yelled, "Go up on stage and take photographs. I'll pay you for them." I was working on stage when two roadies lifted me into the air and escorted me off stage, saying "Bruce doesn't like anyone on stage when he performs.î This was a telling moment for Bruce did control the stage-- in more ways than one--and his relationship with his manager was destined for a breakdown. My photographs were lost in that breakup and I never did get paid for them. They sat in a box in my closet for more than 30 years as I moved on to pursue large format landscape photography. I always felt I needed to find a home for these unique photographs of Springsteen. One day my brother called to say he'd heard that Dave Marsh was working on a book of Springsteen's concerts. I emailed Dave and sent him a few photographs, which can be found in that book.
Later, I met Lynn Goldsmith at a show of her photographs. She expressed interest in offering some of my photographs through her website. So here they are.
Through the years, I've continued my interest in Springsteen, seeing him at least once on every tour. He continues to give the greatest of rock'n'roll performances. He is a powerful force of nature. But still, when I look back at these photographs and remember those early days, I see this force pushing himself to win over audiences in a way he has not had to do since. I knew then what I know now-that there has never ever been anything quite like Springsteeen, nor will there ever be again. These photographs are testimony to that.
About the Prints:
This is a limited edition run of 50 prints. The negatives were drum scanned and printed under my supervision at Autumn Color . Springsteen aficionados may be familiar with Autumn Color's work on Eric Meola's Born to Run cover photographs, as seen in his book, Born to Run: The Unseen Photographs. These people are the best there is, and all the prints are printed to the highest aesthetic and archival standards.
Collectors interested in larger or smaller images should contact the gallery.
Silver Gelatin prints are also available through the gallery.