Within
the broad spectrum of musical photo-journalism, Pamela Martinez
is something of an enigma... Her images of famous and obscure
musicians alike are creative, powerful and real..They are neither
posed nor adapted to a given theme or predetermined mood. Her
work visually achieves the passion, soul and natural spirituality
that lives and breathes in roots music... in an exclusive manner
and depth that only another musician could create.
Born
in Bossier City , Louisiana of musical, artistic parents, Pamela
has lived and traveled around the globe, absorbing worldly musical
energies from a multitude of directions. An avid professional
musician and vocalist herself, she now resides, plays and records
in Denver, Colorado. Active in documenting festivals in a Western
region where thankfully they still abound, Pamela has photographed
hundreds of blues, funk, folk, jazz, country, jam and world musicians
with an unparalleled depth of sensitivity that is immediately
recognizable to the informed viewer. The photo diversity of her
eclectic musical loves are soon to be published in her very first
book.
Beautiful,
generous, gregarious and perpetually positive, Pamela is revered
by the musicians, promoters and children whose lives she warmly
touches. She says " We are all individual walking works of
art, whose canvas' change in amazing ways throughout our lives.
I want to capture that in photos for all eternity". Look
at her photos: the ragged but magical ex-boxer hands of Bo Diddley
... the Robert Johnson like haunting eyes behind the professional
finesse of Robert Cray.. the aged blues passion in the closed
eyes of James Cotton... the quiet yet fierce intensity in Warren
Haynes' string bending..the eclectic worldly intelligence in Corey
Harris' gaze...the bayou warmth in the smile of Sonny Landreth,
the reverent goodness of playful children, and the unadulterated
bliss of joyous festival goers. All these visionary masterpieces,
and many more: Pamela Martinez' soulful images capture the worlds
finest musicians at the very peak of their own musicality. Thats
what I'm talkin' about...
