Contact:
Jonathan David Sabin
Photographer/ Cinematographer
319.621.0191
Jonathan@InfinityPhotographic.com
https://www.infinityphotographic.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa (July 24, 2025) – Iowa City commercial photographer and cinematographer Jonathan David Sabin was among a group of esteemed rock and roll photographers honored at the opening of An American Beauty: Grateful Dead 1965-1995 on July 15, 2025. The exhibition features 28 large-scale and 32 smaller photographic prints documenting all eras of the Grateful Dead experience at the David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles.
Selected from the 275 photographs included in the book, these exhibition images were taken by notable Grateful Dead photographers – Jay Blakesberg, Adrian Boot, Snooky Flowers, Greg Gaar, Andy Leonard, Rosie McGee, Ron Rakow, Jonathan David Sabin, Elizabeth Sunflower, and Kirk West – who documented the Dead phenomenon from its early days at the peak of the Haight-Ashbury hippie renaissance through its rise as a stadium-filling, Top 10 cultural force.
Jonathan David Sabin is a classically trained photographer and cinematographer, beginning his career apprenticing to New York City Industrial/Commercial Photographer John Kroenberger for two years. He then attended and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology under the tutelage of Nile Root, whose mentor was Minor White. Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Minor White formed the F64 Club and were directly responsible for helping to save Yosemite Park from development.
Sabin began his career in Rock and Roll Photography, photographing the Dead at the Nassau Coliseum, Watkins Glen, the largest concert in history and the famed RFK Stadium show on June 10, 1973. This show yielded many classic and Iconic photographs that have appeared in Galleries, Books and Warner/ Rhino Albums over the last 50 years.
Jonathan’s work has appeared in three of Jay Blakesberg’s books, along with the Dead retrospective show in Haight-Asbury July 2023, and the American Beauty show in Los Angeles, presently at the David Kordansky Gallery which is respected as one of the top five Modern Art Galleries in the world.
Sabin was living and working in Arizona as a full-time photographer when he was sent to Iowa City on assignment in 1984. Jonathan walked into The Kitchen Restaurant and met his future wife Pamela, who started, owned and operated The Kitchen for 15 years.
Sabin commented:
“It was a great honor to attend the opening reception for An American Beauty: Grateful Dead 1965-1995, an exhibition of photographs commemorating 60 years of the band, curated by rock photographer Jay Blakesberg and his daughter, Ricki Blakesberg.
One of my prints from the legendary RFK 6.10.73 concert was in the show.
From the moment I entered the gallery, I was treated with great dignity and respect. Pamela and I were ushered into the ‘green room’ where I was able to catch up with the famed photographer and former Dead manager, Ron Rakow.
At the Panel discussion, attended by ~350 people, Jay asked me to discuss my beginnings in photography and photographing at shows in the early 70’s. After the talk, I was given a seat to sign copies of the show’s coffee table book. Next, I was introduced to gallery owner David Kordansky and the CEO of Rhino records, Mark Pinkus… then group photos! A very memorable evening! “
To view downloadable images from the opening, Grateful Dead portfolios, commercial work and more, please visit:
https://www.infinityphotographic.com/portfolio/G0000JTeKyXnTbtE/I0000qFSGX1jgHTo
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