In 1968, a young photographer named Elliott Landy was assigned by the Saturday Evening Post to shoot a cover image of Bob Dylan. At the time, Dylan was at the height of his fame, while Landy was a relatively unknown photographer. Landy got the job after shooting his first record-album assignment, the Band’s Music from Big Pink, which got noticed by a friend of Dylan’s. The meeting spawned a friendship, yielded an album cover and a left a series of intimate photos of the musician with his young family.
When Landy arrived to shoot Dylan, the musician grabbed his guitar and started playing. The moment led to the image that would be chosen by the Saturday Evening Post for its cover. Elliott Landy—MagnumThe November 2, 1968 issue of the The Saturday Evening Post.At the time Landy made these photos, Dylan was at the height of his fame, but had not appeared in public much. Elliott Landy—MagnumAs a result of the Saturday Evening Post shoot, the two men developed a rapport, and Dylan asked Landy to return to photograph himself and his children. At the time, he was living in with his wife, Sara, and their young children, Sam, left, Anna, right and Jesse, not pictured here, at a house called Byrdcliffe. Elliott Landy—Magnum "He was very happy," Landy says, "in love with his lovely and gracious wife, Sara, and with his family. He was hiding from the world, savoring the magical experience of having young children. That's why I didn't publish these pictures for many years. He cherished his privacy and didn't want any media attention on his family."Elliott Landy—Magnum"I think this time in Woodstock was a transformative period for him," Landy says. "He was learning to feel and express love through his family experience. His music from this period reflects that: It's light, homey and haven-like."Elliott Landy—MagnumThe musician poses on his equipment truck. Elliott Landy—MagnumDylan and Jesse.Elliott Landy—MagnumLandy recalls, "Although he was comfortable with me, he was nervous in front of the camera, and his uneasiness made it difficult for me. I was never the kind of photographer who talked people into feeling good." Here the musician plays for his son, Jesse. Elliott Landy—MagnumWith daughter Anna.Elliott Landy—MagnumIn 1969, Dylan called Landy and asked him to take photo for the back of his new album Nashville Skyline. "We didn't know what to do," Landy recalls. "We had no concepts when we started." After a few unfruitful sessions, Landy and Dylan went for a walk on the singer's property. Dylan grabbed a hat and at one point stopped to pose with it. He smiled because "it was kind of a goof, and he was having fun visualizing himself in this silly-looking traditional hat."
Instead of being the rear photo, the photo ended up on the cover. "Every review of the album mentioned Dylan's smile on the cover," Landy says. "It was the first picture of him smiling, and in my opinion reflects the inner spirit, the loving essence of the man behind all the inspiring music he has given us." Elliott Landy—Magnum
