Photographer Lynn Goldsmith is an important visual artist. A creator of work that chronicles music, art, fashion, culture and the human story - her images are loaded with beauty, trust and wonder.
In a recent video interview to support the release of Lynn’s book on Patti Smith, Lynn said to Patti, “these pictures carry such a power - of love, a record to who you are”. I found that line to be extremely moving, an expression of what Lynn felt while she was making the work and a beautiful thing to say to a friend.
Back in 2017 I was in New York to photograph Lynn for a book project, I knew who she was. I had spent my youth staring at album covers and magazine stories on musicians - a great number of these amazing images were taken by Lynn so I was excited to meet her and more than a little intimidated.
I had comped together a makeshift studio on the first floor of a building on 6th Avenue, prepared all my equipment, rechecked it all twice and then spent the half hour before our appointment looking out of the floor to ceiling windows onto the street below, waiting to get a glimpse of Lynn before I finally met her. Would she arrive in a town car, taxi, drive herself or walk? Every little bit of information would help me understand what to expect - irrational maybe, but I was nervous!
Then I spotted something I won’t forget - like Joan of Arc on her charger, Lynn came flying down 6th Avenue weaving through the clutter, she locked her bicycle to a lamp post and banged on the door. I was relieved.
Lynn was warm, gracious and accepting of my approach and technique - she never asked to see the back of my camera and talked to me about my project - not about herself. She wished me well, got on her bicycle and disappeared into grey melee of Manhattan.
I remember sitting down after she left and being sort of dumb struck at how warm, gracious and kind she was. And until I watched that interview with Patti I had wondered why.
Now I understand.
I know that when I work there is an intense desire to connect - to find something meaningful. Sure, at times that can be difficult, but maybe the battle to find that connection is the same thing that Lynn felt when she photographed Patti all those years ago.
It’s not being ‘in love’ - it’s putting love into what you’re creating, and that I think, might be universal in all artistic pursuits. It is personal in some instances but it can also be as simple as wanting to do the best you can given the circumstances.
Back in that apartment on 6th Avenue, Lynn knew that was what she needed me to do. So she let me feel what I needed to feel and knew that that was all she needed to do.
Thank you Lynn.
If you don’t know Lynns work? Have a good look around here: https://lynngoldsmith.com/wordpress/