Fernando
Aceves first saw the light of day in Mexico City in 1965. For the last twelve
years he has dedicated his self-taught photographic talents to documenting
Mexican and international all contemporary musical genres, although his
personal preferences lean toward the rock scene.
Aceves has
worked mainly for concert promoters, record companies, Mexican and foreign
publications and the artists themselves, such as Paul McCartney (1993), Pink
Floyd (1994), David Bowie (1997) and the Rolling Stones, among many others. In
2000 The Museum of Modern Art of Mexico City presented his highly influential
exhibition, The Rolling Stones, - the first time music photography had been
given status in Mexico.
Fernando
has published two books, Ilusiones y destellos: retratos del rock mexicano
(Editorial Plaza y Janés), a unique collection of 129 portraits of the rock
musicians who have shaped the Mexican rock music scene over the last forty
years, and ’50 Jazzistas Mexicanos’ his book on Mexican Jazz Musicians which
came out in 2001.
Aceves is
the only Mexican photographer who systematically focuses on music full-time. He
works with 35mm and does not add special lighting to any given situation. One
of the world’s best ’live’ photographers, Fernando has photographed hundreds of
concerts in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and is the official
photographer of the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
“You need
to capture the musician's essence, find its human side, bring him down to
Earth. Turn an idol into someone "normal" but without taking them from
their environment”.