Best of PID: Mark Seliger (Photographer: Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, more)

About this episode

THE NEW YORK OBSERVER — “I finally went up to Graydon and I said, ‘Hey, you know, I know you like me. I know you wanted me to be here, but I can also do covers.’” • • • That’s today’s guest, Mark Seliger. He’s the same Mark Seliger who, at the moment of this exchange with Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, had already shot over 180 covers for Rolling Stone, where he was the chief photographer from 1992-2002. Seliger had been heavily recruited by GQ and Vanity Fair to move to Condé Nast. But, as he learned, the days of being Fred Woodward’s go-to image maker were over. Once again, he was the new guy. And he saw an opportunity to reinvent himself. Fortunately, reinvention is Seliger’s middle name. (Well, it’s really Alan, but you get what we mean). For example: Seliger grew up in rural Texas, but decides to go big and moves to New York City to get into the magazine business. Reinvention #1. He gets early work at business magazines like Manhattan, Inc. In short time his portraiture lands him a few plum assignments at Rolling Stone. Reinvention #2. Unforgettable shoots and an immediate connection with Woodward lands him the title of chief photographer, and he picks ri