Photographer Neal Preston Celebrates New Book: ‘Exhilarated and Exhausted’ at Book Soup

Neal Preston with Lynn Goldsmith and Randee St. Nicholas at Book Soup - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia
Neal Preston with Lynn Goldsmith and Randee St. Nicholas at Book Soup - Photo © 2017 Donna Balancia

By DONNA BALANCIA

Rockers and rock photographers gathered to celebrate Neal Preston and the release of his new book, Exhilarated and Exhausted at Book Soup Friday night.

Friends and fans gathered to meet and greet Preston, whose work includes iconic shots of everyone from Bob Marley to The Who, Led Zeppelin and many more.

Preston Imbedded with Led Zeppelin

“I’m not the story, what I do is the story because it’s unlike anyone thinks it is,” Preston says.

“These drawers speak volumes about me and about the business I’ve been, in and the people in the photos,” Preston said.

Neal Preston from the trailer for 'Exhilarated and Exhausted' - Photo courtesy Neal Preston
Neal Preston from the trailer for ‘Exhilarated and Exhausted’ – Photo courtesy Neal Preston

“It’s not as glamorous as people think,” Preston said. “People have a preconceived notion of what I do and how I do it. But they only see the photographs. They don’t see what goes into making all of this stuff. There are times it feels like a dream there are times it feels like a nightmare but it’s never boring.”

Preston friends - Photo by Donna Balancia
Neal Preston friends at Book Soup for meet and greet – Photo by Donna Balancia

Preston, whose work hangs in some of the most prestigious galleries in the world prides himself on being the first photographer “embedded” with Led Zeppelin.  He says he never intended to become a major rock photographer, but he always dreamed of it.

For more information check out Neal Preston’s Website

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