Neal Preston or Herbert Worthington - who's better?

[HejiraNYC]

I tend to prefer Herbie's because his images were the first to really captivate me as a wee lad. Yes, they are very deliberate, posed and decidedly stiff- almost like way back in the 19th century when people had to sit perfectly still to take portraits. So they end up having that kinda vintage look that's very retro, yet kinda creepy in a dark/haunting way. And I love the detail of his shots- especially the way the hands are posed, the way her lips are pursed just so. It really does take his photography to a certain level of "art."

Neal tends to strike me as a bit of a point-and-shoot action photog. He basically stages the shot, let's whatever happen, takes hundreds of shots, and publishes maybe a handful of them- a lot of like fashion photography. I love his pics too, but there is a certain randomness to them that makes them more disposable than Herbie's stuff.

[David]

I tend not to prefer Herb Worthington stuff. The only shots of his I enjoyed much were the old FM albums (especially Rumours front, back & inside), & Bella Donna front cover & inside polaroid-type shots. Starting with The Wild Heart cover, I think he began to get too swept up in Stevie's self-described mysticism, & it wasn't for me. Preston I consider, as people have said here, more of a concert photographer & he's always been a very good one. I've always loved those side shots of Stevie doing Rhiannon at the US Festival that originally ran in People. Bill Paustenbach was also a good one with Stevie & Fleetwood. I probably prefer concert photography in their case to studio-coiffed material, & my favorite of the concert shooters was always a guy named Jim Welander, who seemed to catch more relaxed emotion in Stevie's face.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by SpyNote

I like both photographers' work. But I'm more fond of Herbie's stuff because his Stevie portfolio is more diverse and spans different eras.

Yep..yep..yep.

[starshine]

I like Herbie's a little bit more than Neal's.....I love Stevie pictures....I think each is great in different ways. I really like how Herbie did alot of pictures of Stevie solo or with Fleetwood Mac. Anyway, we all like what we like. I really love the Neal beach photos of Stevie...from '81 those are totally awesome though. Herbie's from BD are probably my most favorite....WH a close 2nd....I just wish we could see more of those outtakes though. Of course with Mac Rumours and Tusk.....I don't think? Herbie did Mirage...wasn't that Neal?? not sure....anyway, just some thoughts......

[SortaSavageLike]

Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to bump my threads, but I've created a little video tribute to Neal Preston on Youtube.

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by Kelly

BTW...does anyone know who took the Oz magazine pictures of Stevie? The one of her on the bed with the dead lamb at her feet......

That shot is beautiful. Heavily retouched with Photoshop (no photo today is untouched), but still beautiful. I believe Neal Preston was the photographer. One of the photos from these sessions appears in the Crystal Visions CD booklet... I don't believe it's Cliff Watts (another photographer credited in the booklet) who did the '97 Vanity Fair shoot (hot Stevie on the dragon couch).

[starshine]

Originally Posted by SortaSavageLike

Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to bump my threads, but I've created a little video tribute to Neal Preston on Youtube.

Nice job with the video tribute....I never realized he did so many Stevie pictures....it's really hard to know all the photographers who took picutres of Stevie solo and with Fmac. Thanks I really enjoyed it alot. I still like both in different ways though. I love those outtakes from the IAOF video...color and b & w....awesome shoots really. And of course those beach photos. I have a Stevie poster of her with the red rose with the purple? shawl on. Didn't realize that was a Neal photo though.....either way thanks much!!