The Michael Jackson Reel
Rod Dyer
Christina Chaffin
Aug. 29, 2017
Aug. 29, 2017
Rod Dyer
Photographer of multiple Jackson 5 shoots; 1973 Skywriter album / logo designer
Photographer of multiple Jackson 5 shoots; 1973 Skywriter album / logo designer
Skywriter: The Photo Shoot
"In preparation of the Skywriter album, we took the Jackson 5 to a costume house in Los Angeles called Western Costume because I wanted to shoot them next to an old fashioned plane. We went out and got the group old flight gear to wear, and then all drove out to this old, private airport in Orange County with this convoy of people. When we got there, I went around the location and found a plane for us to use on the album cover. I remember this shoot being a lot of fun."
Skywriter: The Album Cover and Logo
"I designed the Skywriter album cover and logo, and they used that logo on some of their merchandise around that time. I had this vintage album cover idea, and Motown liked it and decided to go with it. We shot [the photographs] in a couple hours time and it was a very simple shoot. It was great because I wanted it to look very vintage, and I remember how Michael and his brothers loved getting dressed up in their chosen flight gear."
Brief Jackson 5 Photo Session Memory
"When shooting the Jackson 5 while at Motown, I was a graphic designer and photographer, and had a studio in Laurel Canyon. Well I remember one time when Michael, his brothers and parents all came to that studio for a shoot. While the group and I were doing the shoot, their parents sat upstairs in the living room with my wife and kids. Well at one point during the shoot on one of our breaks, I remember Michael going upstairs and playing with my kids."
"I remember how the Jackson 5 were all young, cooperative and enthusiastic. They were great. The Jackson family were all very friendly and well-liked."
Photographs below: Copyright Rod Dyer
"In preparation of the Skywriter album, we took the Jackson 5 to a costume house in Los Angeles called Western Costume because I wanted to shoot them next to an old fashioned plane. We went out and got the group old flight gear to wear, and then all drove out to this old, private airport in Orange County with this convoy of people. When we got there, I went around the location and found a plane for us to use on the album cover. I remember this shoot being a lot of fun."
Skywriter: The Album Cover and Logo
"I designed the Skywriter album cover and logo, and they used that logo on some of their merchandise around that time. I had this vintage album cover idea, and Motown liked it and decided to go with it. We shot [the photographs] in a couple hours time and it was a very simple shoot. It was great because I wanted it to look very vintage, and I remember how Michael and his brothers loved getting dressed up in their chosen flight gear."
Brief Jackson 5 Photo Session Memory
"When shooting the Jackson 5 while at Motown, I was a graphic designer and photographer, and had a studio in Laurel Canyon. Well I remember one time when Michael, his brothers and parents all came to that studio for a shoot. While the group and I were doing the shoot, their parents sat upstairs in the living room with my wife and kids. Well at one point during the shoot on one of our breaks, I remember Michael going upstairs and playing with my kids."
"I remember how the Jackson 5 were all young, cooperative and enthusiastic. They were great. The Jackson family were all very friendly and well-liked."
Photographs below: Copyright Rod Dyer
