Bringing Music History Back to Life: Scanning Never-Before-Seen Negatives by David Gahr

One of the most exciting parts of running Light & Lens Studios is getting to work on unique and meaningful projects, and this one might just top the list. I recently had the opportunity to scan a collection of never-before-seen film negatives and slides taken by the legendary music photographer, David Gahr.

For anyone unfamiliar, Gahr was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, known for capturing the heart and soul of American music. His portraits graced album covers, magazines, and galleries, featuring icons like Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, and Pete Seeger, among many others.

This particular collection, purchased by Connor Blick (@blicconn) in an eBay auction, includes an incredible lineup of artists spanning several decades of music history:

• Phish (1996)

• Muddy Waters with Johnny Winter (1976)

• Al Kooper with band (1969)

• Levon Helm from The Band (1969)

• Frank Zappa (1967)

• Albert Grossman, manager of musicians such as Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan (1969)

• The Band (1969)

Not pictured in this set, but also part of the archive: Dr. John (1979), Jack Bruce (1982), and Shawn Phillips (1974).

Many of these photos have never been digitized or publicly seen before, meaning this scanning project helped bring previously lost moments in music history back to life. Each frame tells a story and shows the authenticity of artists who shaped entire generations.

At Light & Lens Studios, I specialize in film scanning, photo restoration, and archival digitization for photographers, collectors, and families looking to preserve their photographic history.

Whether it’s a roll of film from your family archives or a box of vintage slides filled with musical legends, I take pride in giving each image the care and attention it deserves.

If you have old negatives, slides, or film you’d like to preserve, reach out to Light & Lens Studios, I’d love to help you bring your stories back to life.

—Jess Keller (she/her)

Owner of Light & Lens Studios