Photographer Steve Parke recalls that Prince's music captivated him from an early age and that, from a young age, he had set himself a clear goal: one day he would work for him.
During his high school and college years, he photographed local bands. To secure tickets to concerts, he would tell people he worked for a newspaper, without explaining that it was the school newspaper. This way, he managed to get permission to photograph famous artists like U2 and Boy George.
One of the cases that changed the course of his career was a Lionel Richie concert, where Sheila E, an artist associated with Prince's circle, also appeared on stage. Parke talked to her guitarist and told him that he was a photographer and an artist. When he asked her to draw something, Parke immediately made a portrait on a napkin. This acquaintance became the bridge that later brought him closer to the world of Prince.
Around the time of the Sign o' the Times album, he got a call saying he was going to be involved in Prince's projects. The artist had seen some of his work and liked it. Initially, Parke was hired to paint a scene, but Prince soon asked him if he had taken any photographs. That was the turning point.
He then became artistic director at Paisley Park and photographed Prince from 1988 to 1996.
According to Parke, his experience with Prince was different from what many others described. No one gave him strange instructions like “don’t look him in the eye.” He was 25 years old and carried himself naturally but professionally, which was consistent with the way they worked together. Prince would often simply tell him, “I have an idea, pick up the camera.”
Sometimes she would ask him to delete a photo if the lighting wasn't good or the image was blurry, but Parke says Prince was incredibly photogenic. Even without makeup, even in the simplest of looks, he managed to look great almost always.
The photo Parke speaks of most fondly was taken for Notorious magazine, one of the rare times he was hired by someone outside of Prince's inner circle. It was for the year-end cover, and the magazine's art director wanted "1999" written across Prince's stomach. But Prince rejected the idea. He wanted something new.
At the time, he was often talking about his freedom from record labels, so he proposed the word be "Free."
The shoot began early in the morning at Paisley Park, something unusual for their work pace. The set was minimal: a purple backdrop and a film light. The magazine's art director, surprised by the simplicity of the set, asked if this was really how the photo would be shot. Parke told him that this was their usual way of working. He then suggested using a shower curtain to soften the light.
When it was time to write the slogan, Prince told the person preparing the gold paint, “Steve will do it.” Parke was stunned. But before he fully realized what was happening, he was writing the word “Free” on Prince’s stomach with his fingers.
The paint was cold and this made Prince burst into laughter, like a child. While Parke only thought about not spilling the paint and quickly cleaning his hands to continue with the photo shoot.
Prince held his arms open, aware that this pose would further emphasize the word on his stomach.
Parke says that, being slightly taller than Prince, he always had a great angle to photograph him. Prince would lower his chin slightly and raise his eyes upward, creating that special look that made him so recognizable in photographs.
He recalls that Prince often asked him why people thought he had had a nose job. Parke explained that this impression came from the way he was photographed: when others took his photos straight on, his features looked different, while the angles he used gave his face more shape and made it look more angular.
Also featured in the photo is model Desray Junca, who previously appeared in the music video for The Greatest Romance Ever Sold. Prince wanted her presence to give the image more visual appeal. The gold paint on her fingers gives the impression that she is the one painting it.
And, as Parke herself humorously says, no one would want to see her sitting there in her place. /GazetaExpress/
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