(Sub) Rock Photographer James Shive of the ShiveArchive.com, noted for his collection of classic rock and roll images, is among the photographers donating images of Bruce Springsteen in a fundraiser Shive jumpstarted – aptly named "Photographers for Sandy Relief" – to raise money for victims of last month's Hurricane Sandy. "Photographers for Sandy Relief" took a huge leap forward when Bruce Springsteen posted the credible effort to his Facebook page.
Shive, a native of New Jersey who was on the west coast when the storm hit, was already resolved to do something to aid the Garden state by time he returned back east, immediately reaching out to friend Eric Meola, author of the recent book "Streets of Fire" and infamous for photographing Springsteen's "Born to Run" album cover. Together, the two contacted their mutual friend Chris Philips, editor at "Backstreets Magazine," and in a short time every major Springsteen photographer came forward with contributions, among them Danny Clinch, Lynn Goldsmith, David Michael Kennedy, Joe Lopez, Neal Preston, Barbara Pyle, A. M. Saddler, Pam Springsteen, and Frank Stefanko, in addition to Shive and Meola.
With "Photographers for Sandy Relief," fans are given an opportunity to sign onto "Backstreets.com," the world's largest community of Springsteen fans and host of the fundraiser – where they can view 20 legendary images, signed by the photographers, and donate $25 to the cause, giving them the chance to win one of the prints. All proceeds go directly to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, reportedly experiencing shortages of food due to the great demand since the storm. Over 100,000 pounds of food are distributed each day to crisis centers and the FoodBank's more than 1,000 partner agencies throughout the state.
Best known for his iconic images taken before and during Springsteen's meteoric "Born to Run" rise, Shive donated three images to "Photographers for Sandy Relief" from his vintage collection, including "Spirit in the Night I, 1974," "New Year's Eve, 1980," and "She's the One, 1976." Some of the other 20 images being offered include one taken by Pam Springsteen of her brother Bruce composing a song by window light, Clinch's shot of a saxophone and guitar waiting in a concert hallway, a rare platinum-palladium print of Springsteen's "Nebraska" cover taken by Kennedy, and a current photo of Bruce in concert shot by tour photographer Joe Lopez.
"For me, I am just as much a fan of Bruce's music as I am a photographer of his concerts over the many years. I know how fortunate I am to have captured these moments in the career of someone who means so much to New Jersey and me personally, but also someone who single-handedly redefined New Jersey and empowered New Jersey through his music. To be able to have the power to make a difference with so many other incredible photographers, and "Backstreets.com," all with the common thread of Bruce Springsteen's music and the photographs we created, is an honor."
