Karl Ferris
PLAYBOY ARTICLE 1980
Karl Ferris is more than a photographer that 'Takes' photos, He is a Photo/Designer who firstly designs and arranges all aspects of the Image to reflect the perfect message of the Subject, then he 'Makes' the final photograph .
There are many photographers that were in the right place at the right time and took some great candid pictures, but Ferris deliberately designed his pictures to portray the artists and their music for their records and posters, and he pioneered a unique new style of photography that was dubbed "Psychedelic Photography". As he had become bored with the popular black & white style photos of that time, he used military grade Infrared film and his self developed secret technique to create images that went well beyond the form of traditional rock photography. Using his innovative Psychedelic Colour technique (decades before Photoshop) he produced many of the most Iconic images of that rock era. Most notable is probably his 'Fisheye' photograph of 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience', used on their first US LP Cover, "Are You Experienced?", an image that has come to define the late 60's.
He also began producing 'Psychedelic Happening Shows' combining projections of coloured liquid light and photographs over white Leotard clad Free-form dancers accompanied with live music. The likes of Paul McCartney, Graham Nash, Eric Clapton, T Rex, Pink Floyd and John Lennon dropped by and began participating, by playing music with these shows. Karl was also invited to do an early stage light show for Pink Floyd, which is believed to be the first one ever done in England in 1966.
The Karl Ferris Psychedelic Experience
Click to watch on YouTube
The Telegraph Magazine: "Meet photography’s answer to Jimi Hendrix - In the Swinging Sixties, Karl Ferris's 'psychedelic photography' defined how we saw everyone, from Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones to The Beatles."
Legendary Karl Ferris is known as "The principal Innovator of Psychedelic Photography", specializing in Album covers. He was the personal photographer/designer, chosen by Jimi Hendrix & Donovan, and shot the two US debut album covers of Hendrix’s, Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland and The Jimi Hendrix Experience box-set, also Donovan’s A Gift From a Flower to a Garden the very first Pop box-set and Wear Your Love Like Heaven, and many more. He took some of the most unforgettable photographs of the late 1960’s including 8 Album covers in 1967-68, as well as being commissioned by The Beatles to shoot their Apple Boutique - Fool Fashions, and do a multitude of prominent concert posters, magazine features and multiple Fashion and Glamour shoots...He also received the compliment of a lifetime when Hendrix remarked to him, on seeing his portfolio, “You‘re doing with photography what I’m doing with music - going far out beyond the limits. and blowing minds!"
As a photographer to the 'British Rock Elite' - Eric Clapton, Cream, Donovan, The Hollies, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles fashions - Ferris was invited, as a style consultant and photographer, to help create their public images. He was given an insider's access to the 'Experience' that helped define the look of the late 1960s and influence youth culture and lifestyles worldwide.