Get ready for OAK ONLINE’s next visual mixtape, a tribute to the women who shaped music history. From Janis Joplin to Amy Winehouse, Blondie to Spice Girls, these are the icons who redefined generations—captured in striking photography that tells their stories of grit, passion, and revolution.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Thom Lukas

New York-born Thom Lukas discovered his passion for music early—sneaking into live shows and even infiltrating _The Ed Sullivan Show_ in 1964 to witness The Rolling Stones’ debut appearance. His journey began in 1968 at the Fillmore East, photographing Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company. In the weeks that followed, he captured The Doors, Hendrix, and The Who—cementing his place as one of rock photography’s rawest and most intuitive chroniclers.

Ed Finnell

Since the early 1970s, Ed Finnell has been on the front lines of rock history—photographing The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Bowie, Dylan, and more from the foot of the stage. His iconic shots preserve the heat and sweat of live performance, earning him work as a tour photographer and placement in books, magazines, and album art. Finnell’s lens captures rock stars not as myths, but as lightning caught mid-strike.

Kevin Westenberg

Kevin Westenberg is an American-born, London-based photographer known for his dramatic portraits of the world’s biggest artists. With a career spanning more than 25 years, his signature use of shadow, tone, and color brings a cinematic intensity to every image. From Radiohead to Björk, Westenberg’s work has become essential to the visual identity of modern rock and alternative music.

Jake Chessum

Jake Chessum is a British-born photographer based in New York, celebrated for his candid portraits of cultural icons across music, film, and fashion. His work radiates intimacy and immediacy—capturing legends like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and Jay-Z with a disarming honesty. Chessum’s images are equal parts documentary and dialogue—spontaneous, sharp, and full of life.

Anders Tengner

Anders Tengner is a legendary Swedish photographer, music journalist, and author who helped shape the visual culture of Scandinavian rock and metal. As the longtime force behind _Okej_ magazine in the 1980s and ’90s, he documented artists like Kiss, Iron Maiden, and Europe—often before they broke internationally. Tengner’s archive is a time capsule of stage power and backstage access.

Jérôme Brunet

Born in France and raised in Canada, Jérôme Brunet is an award-winning photographer with a deep affinity for blues, soul, and rock icons. His bold compositions and rich tones have been published worldwide and exhibited in major galleries. A musician at heart, Brunet brings a player’s sensitivity to his camera work—documenting legends like B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, and Slash with reverence and precision.

Peter Kjellerås

Peter Kjellerås is a renowned Swedish press photographer whose archive spans five decades of music history. From Michael Jackson to Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan, his portraits balance grit with elegance—always placing the artist at the center of the frame. His work is less about spectacle and more about presence, capturing fleeting moments of calm, charisma, and command.

Exhibitions