2013年6月19日 - 每個攝影師都在等待時機。1990年，攝影師斯科特•克里斯多夫（Scott Christopher）得到了機會。他知道自己要什麼，位置、角度。他冒險期待這一刻。碰巧，它來了。結果可能就是流行巨星邁克爾•傑克遜（Michael Jackson）最偉大的照片。照片裡是一個自在平靜、雙眸明亮、充滿創意的年輕人。這張照片現在首次向公眾公開。
1990年4月，邁克爾•傑克遜在華盛頓從喬治•布希（George Bush）總統那裡接受了“十年最佳藝人”（the Artist of the Decade）獎，與之相關的一個活動是參觀國家兒童博物館。傑克遜身邊有大批隨從，他的保鏢、經紀人和公關跟博物館官員和受邀嘉賓走在一起。攝影師斯科特•克里斯多夫在那裡記錄行程。當一群小學生擠進另一個房間時，他們停下了腳步。邁克爾•傑克遜抓住時機，溜走了。
傑克遜閃進一間小陳列室，斯科特•克里斯多夫跟了進去。攝影師和傑克遜關係融洽，他們對彼此都很放心。克里斯多夫和他的攝影機變成了隱形。傑克遜坐下，旁邊是一張孩子大小的桌子，上面擺了三架玩具木琴。牆上是一張爵士大師路易士•阿姆斯壯（Louis Armstrong）的照片，他在演唱會前正在浴室裡排練，攝影師拍下了他毫無防備的瞬間。
傑克遜拿起木琴槌，開始彈奏。情緒有了變化，克里斯多夫感受到了，邁克爾•傑克遜沉浸在他自己的小小世界裡。攝影師回憶道：“邁克爾進入了他的內心深處。”他的表情開始放鬆，眼神迷離。傑克遜享受其中，他在彈奏音樂。
攝影師注意到細節。傑克遜用一隻手彈奏，另一隻手放在一邊。路易士•阿姆斯壯傾斜地舉起小號。這位當代流行巨星沉浸在自己的世界裡，阿姆斯壯也是。斯科特•克里斯多夫想拍下傑克遜的肩膀跟小號平行的瞬間。他可以期待這一刻，也可以隨便拍幾張。他很可能會毀掉這個時刻，但是繼續等待。傑克遜繼續彈奏，只為自己。
過了二三十秒，攝影師的手指按下快門，照片拍好了。這時，一位官員走進房間，宣佈活動開始。回到現實，那個瞬間一去不復返。
斯科特•克里斯多夫從來沒有把這張記錄著這個公眾人物的私人時刻的照片公開，現在，他終於等到了這一刻。
Every photographer waits for the moment. In 1990, photographer Scott Christopher saw an opportunity. He knew what he wanted. The position. The angle. He took a risk and hoped for the moment. By chance, it happened. The result may be the greatest photograph of pop star Michael Jackson. It depicts a youthful man, at ease, at peace, clear eyed and creative. The photograph has now been unveiled for the very first time to the general public at the AMFM Fest in the Coachella Valley.
In April of 1990, Michael Jackson was in
Washington D.C. to receive an award, the Artist of the Decade, from President
George Bush Sr. One of the many related events was a visit to the National
Children’s Museum. Jackson was with a large entourage. His bodyguards, managers
and publicists were milling with museum officials and selected guests.
Photographer Scott Christopher was there to document the occasion. The group
was halted as scores of school kids were assembling in the next room. Michael
Jackson found a moment and he slipped away.
Jackson dodged into a small exhibit room
and Scott Christopher followed. The photographer had developed a rapport with
the pop star. They were comfortable with each other. Christopher and his camera
had become invisible. Jackson sat down, next to a kid-sized table that held
three toy xylophones. Above it on the wall was a photograph of jazz great Louis
Armstrong. The trumpeter was rehearsing in a bathroom before a concert. A
photographer had caught him in an unguarded moment.
Jackson took the xylophone mallet and began
to play. There was a shift in the energy and Christopher sensed it. Michael
Jackson was getting lost in his own little world. The photographer recalls,
“Michael was within his heart of hearts.” His face began to relax and his eyes
lost focus. The man was having fun. He was playing music.
A photographer looks at elements. Jackson
was playing with one hand, the other was relaxed beside him. Louis Armstrong
held his trumpet at an angle. The contemporary pop star was lost to himself and
so was Armstrong. Scott Christopher wanted a shot where Jackson’s arm would
parallel the trumpet. He could hope. He also could have popped off a few safe
shots. He could possibly ruin the moment. He waited. Jackson continued to play,
for himself.
After twenty to thirty seconds, the
pressure of the photographer’s finger opened the shutter of the camera for a
fraction of a second. Light hit celluloid. An image was captured. Immediately,
an official popped into the room and announced the start of the event. Reality
beckoned. The moment was broken.
Scott Christopher has never shared the
photograph of a very private moment of a very public man. He was waiting for
the right moment. On June 14, 2013, the photograph was unveiled to the public
at the AMFM Fest in Coachella Valley at the Incredible Artist Gallery. The
festival, art, music, film and more, is sponsored by Film 4 Change, an
organization that Christopher supports. The photograph is noteworthy in so many
ways.
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