Jill Furmanovsky: Finding My Voice Through Learning and Perseverance

SheClicks Women in Photography

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Jill Furmanovsky is a renowned music photographer who has been in the business for over 50 years. In this podcast, Jill shares her journey into photography and the challenges she faced as a young female photographer in the industry in the early 1970s.
Jill credits her father, who was an amateur photographer, for sparking her interest in photography. And, despite choosing to enrol in a degree course in textile design, she started her career in photography by taking pictures of bands at the Rainbow Theatre.
In this fascinating conversation, Jill discusses the transition from film to digital photography and the impact of digital technology on her career. She also highlights the importance of networking and learning from other photographers in the industry. In this part of the conversation, Jill and Angela discuss the transition from film to digital photography, the challenges and benefits of digital printing, and the evolution of camera technology. They also talk about the limitations of shooting in the pit at concerts and how Jill adapts her photography style to different bands and performances.
Jill shares her experiences working with various musicians and the development of Rock Archive, an online collection of music images available as fine art prints. She expresses her desire for more recognition and support for rock photography exhibitions.
In the final part of the conversation, Jill answers six questions from SheClickers and discusses topics such as her first published image, her preferred camera and lens setup for live music photography, her thoughts on shooting in colour or black and white and gives advice for aspiring music photographers.
After over 50 years in the business, Jill still gets excited about photographing new and talented musicians.

Takeaways

• Jill Furmanovsky started her career by taking pictures of bands at the Rainbow Theatre for expenses rather than payment.
• The transition from film to digital photography had a significant impact on Jill's career, particularly in terms of printing and accessibility.
• Networking and learning from other photographers played a crucial role in Jill's growth and success.
• Shooting in the pit at concerts can be frustrating due to limited time and lighting conditions, but Jill adapts her style to capture the energy and atmosphere of the event.
• Rock Archive, founded by Jill, showcases a wide range of rock photography and aims to bring recognition and support to the genre through exhibitions and videos featuring interviews with photographers.
• It's important to know your camera in-depth to capture fleeting moments.
• Making a living as a music photographer is increasingly difficult.
• Passion for music and photography is essential for success in the field.
• Jill is a champion of music photography and has been fighting for a permanent home for an exhibition.

Connect with Jill
Website
Rock Archive
Instagram
Facebook
MPB
This podcast is supported by MPB, the world's largest platform for used photography and videography kit. MPB has transformed the way people buy, sell and trade equipment, making photography more accessible, affordable and sustainable. MPB is proud to partner with SheClicks to help support women photographers and their work.

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1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Moving from textile design to photography (00:03:59)

3. Working for expenses and asking fro image credits (00:07:38)

4. The challenge of being young and female (00:09:51)

5. Jill's first assignment (00:13:05)

6. Switching from film to digital photography (00:18:07)

7. Time limits in the pit (00:25:08)

8. Future exhibitions (00:29:21)

9. Jill's working relationship with Noel Gallagher (00:30:53)

10. Starting Rock Archive (00:32:43)

11. Six from SheClicks (00:39:00)