Jimmy Page

6

"Jimmy is a friend of mine, I'm proud to say. I know how to work with him and get around his moods. He's one of those guys who's never satisfied, which has its good and frustrating points. He doesn't even like half of the Led Zeppelin pictures he's in! That said, because he's a friend of mine, I find him much easier to shoot than other people, because I understand him. Beyond that, I have access to him; nobody else does. When I'm shooting Jimmy, the main thing I try to do is catch him off guard. He's very business-like in the studio. Doesn't need music blasting and all that. Just comes in and does his thing. He doesn't like to smile, but I happen to think he looks fantastic when he smiles, so I'm always trying to break him up. As much as he protests, "No, Ross, I'm not smiling today!" I always get him to lighten up. Deep down, I think he appreciates that, even though he'd never admit it. But, see, that's the thing about what I do: I'm always trying to get that private moment, that side of the artist they don't always want you to see. That's where the magic lurks."
Ross Halfin, on Jimmy Page