Paul Ferrara (born November 16, 1939) is an American photographer known for his relationship with singer Jim Morrison of the band the Doors. Born to Italian–American parents, Ferrara met the band after photographing Jim Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson. He began working with the group as a stills photographers and many of his color and black & white photos appeared in a 24-page souvenir book sold at Doors' concerts in 1968. Many iconic images of Morrison were taken by Ferrara. Ferrara also took the cover photograph of the Doors album Waiting for the Sun in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles.
Ferrara co-directed Jim Morrison's 1969 film HWY: An American Pastoral and directed Feast of Friends which included film of the group over a five-month period touring in 1968. Hitherto unreleased, behind the scenes movies of the Doors shot by Ferrara in the late 1960s and early 1970s were included in the 2009 documentary on the band, When You're Strange.
Ferrara was in the inner circle of the Doors and self-published his memoirs from this period in Flash of Eden in 2007.
References
- Ferrara, Paul (2007). Flash of Eden. AuthorHouse. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4343-4070-2.
- ^ Hopkins, Jerry (1995). The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison. Simon & Schuster. p. 110. ISBN 9780684818665.
- ^ "Alum's historic footage anchors new documentary about The Doors". UCLA School of theater, film and television. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
- IMD entry: HWY: An American Pastoral (1969)
- IMD entry: When You’re Strange (2009)
- Butler, Patricia; Jerry Hopkins (2002). Angels Dance and Angels Die: The Tragic Romance of Pamela and Jim Morrison. Music Sales Group. ISBN 978-0-8256-7270-5.
- Fowlie, Wallace (1994). Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: the rebel as poet. Duke University Press. p188
- Ferrara, Paul (2007). Flash of Eden. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4343-4070-2.