Bob Marley Posters | Bob Marley Sublime In Repose

Bob Marley Sublime In Repose

Posted on July 16, 2008
Filed Under Concert Posters, Reggae Posters, bob marley, bob marley poster |

Now this has to be one of Bob Marleys more sublime posters.  Obviously a concert poster, and one where Bob feels totally relaxed, and into the groove.  Pointing to the crowd perhaps, or is that pointing to the heavens above.  Hard to say.  Maybe both.

I usually don’t like it when there’s are lyrics superimposed on top of an already gorgeous photograph.  But, in this case I don’t really mind it all that much.  Whoever picked out the lyrics did a fine job of matching them with the moment.  They really do seem to fit.  You can see a bigger shot of the poster (all of the posters here) if you click on it.  They are pretty mainstream as far as lyrics go, but there’s nothing wrong with that.  While his more obscure lyrics may appeal to the more snobbish Marley fans.  In my mind, just about everything that came out ob Bobs mouth has some deep meaning to it.  We all take what we need from the songs.

The real skill of a photographer comes through in his work, when he shows something we know is there in a subject, but for one reason or another just couldn’t find a way to express it.  It’s not just the art of the musician here, but the artistry of the photographer the makes this one of my favorite posters.  The two work in unison, like the music and the words.  A synergy of artistry that comes together in a symbiotic melding.  What we the observer get, is something greater then the simple sum of both could ever have been.  Lucky us.

What really comes through for me in this poster is the scale of the man.  While I was never lucky enough to meet Bob Marley, or even see him live in concert, what always struck me about him, was his sheer larger then life spirit.  There are some people in this world that just stand out from a crowd.  It’s a very indescribable quality, but one that is felt whenever your in the presence of a stronger spirit.  Bob always felt (excuse me while I steal a cliche here), larger then life.  You had to know, that when he walked into a room people noticed.  Not because of any grandiose grandstanding on his part, but simply because his aura was a personification that everyone felt.

While, I think this poster could have been better without the lyrics superimposed on it, it still works for me.  The spirit, love and rhythm are all still there.  Rhythm is something I haven’t talked about here, but would be remiss if I neglected it.  How can one speak to anything reggae related without mentioning rhythm.  Especially being a drummer myself.  Normally, one would associate rhythm with movement, there is really little to speak of here in this photograph.  It is though akin to a silent percussive style.  You know the band is jamming there, you know the crowd is akimbo in movement, and you know Bob Marley won’t be standing still for very much longer.

The picture has been taken, the moment is gone, but his spirit and rhythm still to this day pervade my very existence.


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