This Photographer Finds The Original Locations Where Album Covers Were Photographed
On Instagram, a captivating project mixes music, photography, and history to bring rock, hip-hop, and pop legends back to life. Behind the Instagram account called The Band Was Here, photographer Steve Birnbaum is on a mission to track down the exact locations where iconic album covers were taken to superimpose them on the current setting.
It all started as a simple hobby. Based in New York, the creative is passionate about music and photography. One day, he came across an article featuring a photographer who superimposed war shots onto current images of the same places. Inspired, he decided to apply this approach to music icons.
Their concept? To go to the exact locations where the covers of cult albums were taken decades ago and capture the scene with the original image held at arm’s length.
His account features photos of The Notorious B.I.G., Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Nirvana, Taylor Swift, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more. His work isn’t limited to megastars, though: he also takes photos of underground punk bands and cult artists who have made their mark on music history.
A thorough investigation to find the exact locations
While some photos are easy to locate thanks to visible elements like signs or monuments, others require real detective work. To achieve his goals, he explores Google Maps, digs through archives, reads old interviews with photographers and musicians, and spends hours analyzing the smallest clues hidden in the images. Some searches can take months, but the effort is worth it!
With over 180,000 followers, “The Band Was Here” has become an Instagram phenomenon. But Birnbaum isn’t stopping there; he’s currently working on a documentary series that will delve even deeper into the history of iconic music photos. For more, be sure to check out his Instagram account.
