This month, we’re talking with award-winning photographer Janet Macoska, a Cleveland native whose body of work has been featured all over the world, including in Cleveland Landmarks Press’ book All Access Cleveland: The Rock and Roll Photography of Janet Macoska, with Peter Chakerian.
Your photos have been all over the world and you’ve been honored by so many organizations. What stands out among the images or the honors you’ve received? Why?
I’m particularly proud that I was inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame in 2017 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Visual Art from the Cleveland Arts Prize in 2023. It was the realization of my dream and my goal from the age of 10. The majority of my stories were powered by rock and roll and allowed me to live and flourish in my happy place of music and performance. The “pinch me” moments include producing images that live on at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Smithsonian Museum of American History, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Museum, and the Akron Art Museum as well as in numerous books, record projects, and documentaries.
When you think about rock history and Cleveland — of course you’ve pretty much seen it all. Looking back at your career in capturing so much of it in Cleveland — what stands out as your favorite concert? Moment? Performer?
You are speaking about 52 years of concerts, moments and performers! Difficult to choose favorites as you might imagine. Documenting Cleveland’s all-out effort to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here was the most significant experience for me. Documenting the campaign that came together with the public, media and civic support, doing everything to bring the “House That Rock Built” to our city was so rewarding. I’m so proud to be a Clevelander using my art to preserve memories and musicians for all time.
The Beatles inspired my love of rock and roll and led me to this career choice. I’ve been able to cross paths with my favorite, Paul McCartney, many times. He and his wife Linda supported and enjoyed my photography. On his 1989/1990 tour, they made sure their publicist gave me access to shoot in several cities on the tour.
Proudly, one of my performance shots of Paul is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. I’ve probably photographed over 40 events and concerts and moments with Paul McCartney; and also photographed George Harrison and Ringo Starr. As a fan, I’ve travelled to Liverpool several times, and attended an outdoor concert by Paul on the banks of the Mersey River. I felt part of “the family” in Liverpool. The emotion of the night was so moving. When Paul sang “Give Peace A Chance” to honor John Lennon, the audience of 50,000 strong sang along with such love in their hearts. When the band finished the song, the crowd sang on. Paul put his hands in the air and looked up to the sky, hoping his best mate John had witnessed the moment.
When you think about your professional life in Cleveland and all the people you’ve worked with, what comes to mind? Does anyone or any organization stand out? Who in Cleveland has been important to you and your career?
I found the professionals that I approached to help get my career underway most willing to help. I went to Belkin Productions, the concert promoter in Cleveland that put on virtually every concert in the city. I brought copies of the Tri-C newspaper and my articles and told them that college students are exactly the audience they want for their shows and they agreed. I’d promote shows coming up, interview and photograph the artists if possible, and turn in clippings of my stories.
Within six months, I had the entire center section, two full pages of the college paper, filled with entertainment stories. I got a job shooting for the Cleveland Indians shooting their promo photos and portraits of the players – all from volunteering to do odd jobs in their PR department in my high school years, and from showing them the portfolio I was developing. I was working in music/entertainment in my first year of shooting. WMMS Radio was the power station in Cleveland back then. They were always having musicians at the station to promote their newest album or the concert that night. I asked if I could shoot those appearances and would give them a few prints. Record company promotion men were soon hiring me to stick with the artist all day and do photos.
All Access Cleveland is a compendium of some of your greatest shots. What to you is the most important aspect(s) of the book?
I think for me as an individual, it was getting a good selection of my photography out to the world (particularly Cleveland). Since 2015, when it was published, it has acted like a portfolio that companies and collectors find interesting; and it inspires sales of individual prints as well as collections of my work. Readers love the anecdotes and stories that go along with the photos. It appeals to various ages. Those who were at some of these concerts love recalling the memories and share their own amongst their friends. Younger fans learn about the iconic musicians from days past that inspired the music they are now listening to. It’s part of the history and culture of rock and roll. I wanted my photos to live in different media and collections. I’m happy to have provided these memories in words and pictures.
What are you working on today? How can a fan of Janet Macoska learn more?
I’m working on a Michael Stanley book calledFavorite Son. I had photographed Michael and his bands since 1974, onstage and offstage. This book will probably be 80 percent photographs and 20 percent interviews and narrative. I’m hoping it will be available by August 2026. Writer Deanna Adams from Mentor is writing much of the narrative. Guitarist Joe Walsh wrote the introduction. Fans who want to see a sampling of my work can go to www.janetmacoska.com for images and information; and an email where you can write to me.
