Robert "Bob" Emett Seidemann (December 28, 1941 – November 27, 2017)[1][2] was an American graphic artist and photographer. He was known for his portraits of musicians and bands from San Francisco's counterculture in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of his images were published by Rolling Stone, by record labels, and in books.
Biography
Seidemann was born on December 28, 1941, in Manhattan, New York. He grew up in Queens. Seidemann graduated from Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, and apprenticed with photographer Tom Caravaglia in Manhattan before heading west.
In 1969, Eric Clapton formed a new band and Seidemann was commissioned to create the cover for their album. Seidemann photographed nude 11-year-old Mariora Goschen to create what would become his most famous and controversial work, titled "Blind Faith". Not only did it become the cover and title of Blind Faith the album, but the name of the band as well.
1970s
Although unpublished until her death in 1970, Seidemann's 1967 portraits of a semi-nude Janis Joplin earned him wide acclaim. Seidemann also photographed The Grateful Dead a number of times during their peak, both for posters and album liners, as well as designing the covers for Jerry Garcia's debut solo album, Garcia, and The Grateful Dead's Wake of the Flood with Rick Griffin illustrating.
From the late 1980s till 2000, Seidemann produced a portfolio of 302 aviation-themed photographs entitled "Airplane as Art". Striking abstract photographs of all manner of aircraft and environmental portraits of aircraft engineers, designers, and pilots make up the collection. “Airplane As Art” is in included in the Getty Museum Photography Collection, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, McDermott Library, UTDallas, and the Boeing Corporate Collection .
A portfolio sold at Sotheby's on October 12, 2000, for $236,750.[4] His 1969 "Blind Faith" flush-mounted and signed chromogenic photo print, edition (17/30), sold at Sotheby's New York on June 24, 2014(lot 20), at $17,500 (with buyer's premium).[5]