Field Notes from My Interview with ACL Concert Photographer, Scott Newton

FROM A BACKSTAGE TOUR TO PUGS AT THE FRONT DOOR:
When I signed up for a backstage, daytime guided tour of the Moody Theatre, the home of Austin City Limits, I wasn’t planning to meet the photographer whose work of countless musicians adorns the venue walls. But after the tour, my curiosity to know more about his life and process was on auto-pilot, I felt drawn to him for some reason, coaxed. Within hours of my tour, I was in a taxi on my way to meet Scott Newton.
As I walked through his misty garden, I was very nervous but was instantly put at ease when his pug Slugger greeted me at the door. As a lifelong pug person, my heart skipped a beat and I felt kindred.

TRAVEL THROUGH TERABYTES:
Flipping through his coffee table book of photography and later through his digital archive, Scott shares stories about some of the artists who sing from the glossy pages. You’ll hear about Willie Nelson, his best friend who he has been photographing since the 60’s and you’ll never believe who called him up to ask to use one of his photographs as an album cover! Scott talks about his technical approach to photography (he’s a Nikon guy) but it was his philosophy on the art of photography itself that brought me to tears. His concepts and viewpoints on the muse, the creative process and on spirituality will take you deep inside and outside yourself. 

MEDIA TIME CAPSULE OF MUSIC MAGIC:
“Ostensibly, we're bringing through the very best musicians of the world really these days, and it's the place where everybody goes to show their A-game. And so we're laying down an anthology of the very best the culture has to offer.” Scott Newtown

With humble roots, Austin City Limits is the longest running music series in American TV history. The concert experience is a unique one, because the show is being taped for tv. This affords artists the luxury of re-doing songs; sometimes more than once. Scott talks about an artist who might have taken the luxury a bit too far and shares spiritual viewpoints on what a venue means to our society. 

IN CLOSING:
Anne Geddes says that, “The best images are the ones that retain their strength and impact over the years, regardless of the number of times they are viewed.”
And I now believe the same can be said about podcasts.

Thank you for reading, for listening and for being here - I sincerely hope this podcast episodes brings you joy and newfound appreciation and perspective for the work you practice.