Feinstein, Barry (2009) ‘Real Moments – Bob Dylan by Barry Feinstein’, UK signed limited edition

Barry Feinstein first photographed Bob Dylan at the request of Columbia Records. Taken on the balcony of an NYC penthouse, the portrait Dylan hand-picked became the cover of The Times They Are A-Changin’ and is now considered a classic.

Two years later, embarking on the 1966 European tour, Dylan was dressed to kill in shades, polka dots and stripes. Every night, halfway through his set, his acoustic guitar was discarded in favour of a Fender Telecaster to the frequent jeers of folk purists in the crowd. Bob Dylan had ‘gone electric’ and was redefining the concept of popular music. In Barry Feinstein, Life magazine had a photographer equal to the historic moments he was witnessing.

Feinstein’s photographs of the 1966 tour are nothing short of extraordinary and form the backbone of Real Moments. Many have never been published, while others are deservedly famous. They include the image of Dylan standing on the rain-soaked quayside at Aust Ferry Terminal, Bristol, that came to grace the covers of Martin Scorsese’s No Direction Home.

‘The Aust Ferry shot with the limo is the picture that Bob likes; it told it all. It has depth, he looked cool and it represented the moment.’ – Barry Feinstein

When Bob Dylan made his return to stage after retreating for a time to his home in Woodstock, Feinstein was again chosen to accompany him. Using the same cameras, Barry caught yet more extraordinary moments on film: Dylan with a rare ear-to-ear grin as he stands in front of a rapturous audience at the LA Forum; lying on the floor of his dressing room before a show; roaming art galleries; and meeting with Governor Jimmy Carter.

‘After this tour ended I said I would never go on another tour again because it would never be as great as this.’ – Barry Feinstein