Bob Coulter

Bob's professional progression from record producer to photographer is unexpectedly logical. Just as being able to say what you mean is not always easy, a good record producer is someone who intuitively understands what the artist wants to communicate, is able to find the language to extract it, and has the technical facility to capture it. Likewise, in Bob's photography, he has an aesthetic in mind, honed the ability to communicate and extract it from "the talent," and has the confidence to know his work holds merit.

And the subject matter of Bob's photography is certainly taken from his music career; sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Guitars are occasionally used as props, the infamous Chelsea Hotel -- indelibly linked with rock and roll history -- is used as a location for several of the shoots. And then there are the needles and the lines. There are elements of rock and roll fantasy; many of the pictures could easily be looked at as stills from a music video, if only MTV would allow nudity.

As a record producer Bob was always "independent" but the nastiness of the business encouraged him to mold his life to an increasingly autonomous extreme, which the internet certainly allowed. Bob started his web site crazybabe.com in 1999, primarily as a get rich quick scheme. He started taking pictures shortly after, realizing that in a competitive market he needed original content.

Bob learned the rudiments of cameras and film in high school. But had it not been for the advent of digital cameras and photo programs such as PhotoShop Bob never would have picked up a camera again after some twenty years. These tools allow him to explore, learn and alter photographs without the prohibitive expense of film and developing. For technical assistance, Bob turned to professional photographers and friends such as Carol LeFlufy, Fortune Procopio, Nancy Davenport, Peter Gorman and Leland Ray.