Nearly 40-years ago, Southington resident John Atashian went to a Pink Floyd concert on Long Island and decided to bring along his camera to capture a few memories from the show.
Since then, he has been attending concerts with his camerPlaina in hand, recording images of nearly 4,000 musicians performing live on stage.
This month, Atashian’s work will be on display at the Plainville Public Library, the first stop on his “Concert Photo Display” tour. The exhibit, up for the month of June, will feature large prints on canvas wraps of musicians including Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones, and Shakira.
The exhibit tour is being held to celebrate the publication of Atashian’s new photography book, “The Ultimate Photo Book of the World’s Greatest Guitarists.”
The book, available on Amazon and www.blurb.com, features 100 pages of color and black and white photos of more than 500 world-famous guitarists performing on stage.
With 37-years of concert photography under his belt, Atashian said he “cannot pin point one favorite show.”
“I have seen too many unbelievable great performances to pick just one,” said Atashian. The photographer does recall Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” as some of the most memorable shows he has seen and shot.
“Music photography is a big part of what I do and is an everyday part my world,” said Atashian, but his work extends far beyond the concert setting. His online portfolio features photos from weddings, parties, sporting events, business galas, and family portrait sessions.
“I get fired up on capturing real natural candid emotion in all areas of my photography work,” said Atashian, who enjoys photographing people, events, posed portraits, and candid shots.
Atashian said his best memory as a photographer would be his work and service to ESPN in Bristol since 1991.
Atashian’s exhibit will be open to the public at the Plainville Library, located at 56 East Main Street, is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The exhibit will travel around the state for the next year, heading next to the New Britain Public Library in July and the Cheshire Public Library in August.
In September, an even bigger show will be held at Southington’s Gura Building, home of the Southington Arts Center.
More information about “The Ultimate Photo Book of the World’s Greatest Guitarists.” HERE & www.concertphotos.com & www.johnatasian.com
SOURCE: Southington Observer via All Things Michael
