Graham Nash: Ace Photographer, Digital Printing Pioneer, Music Legend

Graham Nash is a true visionary. Whether in the lyrics he writes, the music he plays, the songs he sings, or the photographs he captures, he sees things a little differently and—most important—he sees beauty everywhere. As he describes it during our podcast, “It’s just energy. I see my life facing a column of energy every day. Where do I want to plug in today?”

Listen in as Nash regales us with how multidisciplinary interests help him avoid writer’s block, his fascination for early Daguerreotypes, his historic role as a digital printing pioneer, his deep respect for Epson products, and much more. Stay to the end for Nash’s honest assessment of his singing voice, and to learn his secret to staying passionate and making the most of a creative life.

Guest: Graham Nash

Photos by Graham Nash, excerpted from A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash, and provided courtesy of Insight Editions. Cover photo © Joel Bernstein

 For further details about our guest, his gear, and a selection of his historic photographs, find this episode on the B&H Explora blog at: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/graham-nash-ace-photographer-digital-printing-pioneer-music-legend-the-bh

Guest Bio: English singer-songwriter and musician Graham Nash is known for his light tenor voice and his iconic status as a founding member of the Hollies, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and later Young. A two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and the recipient of four honorary degrees, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to music and to charity.

A lesser-known detail is that Nash’s long held passion for images even predates his start in music. An avid photographer since the age of 10, Nash began collecting photographs in the early 1970s. In 1990, he chose to auction off his 2,000-print collection to help fund Nash Editions, the pioneering fine art digital printing company he co-founded, using an IRIS Graphics 3047 printer that is now in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History,

At the tender age of 80, Nash is still busy creating both pictures and music, while also maintaining a hectic tour schedule. A book of his photographs, A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash, was recently released by Insight Editions and is widely available in bookstores and online.

Stay Connected:

Personal Website: https://grahamnash.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialgrahamnash/

Twitter: @TheGrahamNash

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialGrahamNash/

Episode Timeline

3:10: Graham Nash’s photo collection and the objects he collects today

4:10: How and where his musical and photographic paths cross

4:58: Nash’s work as a sculptor

6:34: The ability to hear photographs, see music, and talk in colors

8:14: Nash’s introduction to photography at 10-years-old

9:50: Nash’s first camera: an Agfa with a small bellows

10:10: Being invisible when taking pictures and blending into the woodwork

12:42: Nash’s favorite music photographers

13:52: It doesn’t matter what camera he uses

14:30: A 1980’s digital camera and an early awareness of the digital world

15:32: Both ends of the photographic spectrum—digital to Daguerreotypes

17:45: From a sense of history to modern Daguerreotypists

18:58: A personal phone number for Louis Daguerre

25:20: Episode break

20:44: Nash’s pioneering work in digital printing  

22:18: Iris printers and the issue of ink longevity

25:04: The transition to Epson printers and ink

26:14: An Iris print fades during an hour lunch

27:56: Nash’s preference between black and white and color

28:22: Recommended printers and number of color channels  

30:50: Nash’s paper choice: Epson Legacy Fiber

31:22: Coordinate paper, coatings, and inks for optimal results

32:42: Nash’s new book A Life in Focus, and recording music remotely during the pandemic

33:59: Nash’s singing voice and how it’s held up over time

35:08: Two things Nash wants his audience to know

36:22: Nash’s secret to remaining passionate: Keep your eyes open—360 degrees