Former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed, who passed away last week at the age of 71, is one of the most important figures in rock ‘n roll history. You don’t need us to tell you that, but you might not be aware that he is also a serious photographer, and it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t pay him tribute by posting some of his work.
These selections are found in Romanticism, Reed’s third book of photographs, an otherworldly meditation on nature and architecture. The images, shot during trips to Scotland, Denmark and Big Sur, were taken with a digital camera that Reed modified to “see” in the infrared zone, suffusing each frame with a surreal glow.
He approached photography with the same qualities that defined him as a musician. “The response is emotional,” he said. “That’s all I want; they are taken with emotion and put together with emotion, equal emotion.”
Rest in peace, Lou. Thank you for everything.