Renowned photographer Dustin Pittman was the man who captured the nostalgic scenes of New York in the late 60s, 70s and 80s – photographing everyone from music and fashion icons to Hollywood royalty.
And his new book, “Dustin Pittman: New York After Dark,” turns the page on that golden era.
“It was an incredible period. It was an incredible time,” Pittman told the Post. “It was really easy. You could hang out with people.
“Artists, musicians and creative people were respectful of each other. It was wonderful.”
But Pittman wasn’t just an observer keeping an eye on celebrity encounters.
“I've always considered myself a participant, not just a photographer,” he said. “I didn't treat them like celebrities — they were my friends.”
Iggy Pop
The godfather of punk, Iggy Pop, is the cover boy for “Dustin Pittman: New York After Dark,” roaming the stage with the Stooges at the Uganno Club in 1970.
“Iggy did his Iggy thing,” Pittman said. “He was brand new, and it was wonderful … We got on really well.”
So much so that Pittman was granted a special exception.
“Iggy had a rule that if a photographer got too close, he would break their camera,” he said. “But Iggy told me, 'Dustin, you never have to worry about me breaking your camera. You can get as close as you want.'”
Lou Reed
Pittman had shot Lou Reed with the Velvet Underground during their residency at Max's Kansas City in 1970, which proved to be his final performance with the band.
“Lou Reed and I were very close,” he said. “And that show was historic. He played two sets every night for two or three weeks. And the coolest thing was there were probably not even 30 people to see him play. But they weren't Watching Watching them play – you'd get up and dance next to Lou Reed playing 'Heroine' and 'Sweet Jane' and all those songs. And every set they would improvise.
david johansson
David Johansen of the New York Dolls wrote the introduction to “New York After Dark”, saying that “it's obvious that Dustin has a lucky nature and loves being a photographer.”
The book also shows the punk icon posing during the St. Valentine's Day Massacre at the Academy of Music in 1974.
“I met them in 1969 when they were starting the Dolls,” said Pittman, who still speaks with Johansen regularly. “I loved the idea of having the Dolls go into these vintage stores and buy all these women's clothes and put on makeup and do their own thing.”
Mick Jagger
As Pittman made his way to shoot the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden in 1974, he wore a band on his arm that served as a photographer's pass.
“I bought a $5 ticket in the nosebleed section,” he said. “And then when the lights went down, I put my band on and sneaked my way to the front. I was standing right there in the front, shooting Mick Jagger!
Pittman then continued to challenge the system. “Mick Jagger had a rule: after three songs, no more photos. So I took off my armband, sneaked to the side of the stage and waited until everyone had left. I put the armband back on and went to the front of the stage and photographed the whole concert.
“Mick knew exactly what I had done … and then Mick picked up a huge bucket full of water and threw it at me. As the water came towards me, I took the picture and got out of the way.”
Debbie Harry and Stilettos
debbie harry Pictured in stilettos at Club 82 in the East Village in 1974 — before Blondie even existed.
“The 82 Club (as it was known) was a great club,” Pittman said. “It was underground in the basement, and there were great bands that played there: Television, the Ramones, everybody played there.”
Pittman also had a special relationship with Blondie co-founder Chris Stein.
“I studied with Chris at the School of Visual Arts,” he said. “And then Chris joined Stilettos before Blondie.”
diana ross
Pittman — whose Studio 54 exploits are revisited in “New York After Dark” — was at the famous club when Diana Ross helped bring in 1979 on New Year’s Eve.
“She was wonderful … and she was in a great mood,” he said. “Nights at Studio 54 were so magical. It was like being on the set of 'The Wizard of Oz.' I swear to God, when you walked in the door of Studio 54, it was like the scene from 'The Wizard of Oz,' where everything goes from black and white to color,”
Pittman had insider connections with the club's owners. “I was a very good friend of Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell,” he said, “so I had complete access to every corner and every place of the club. Everywhere.”
the mother of christ
Before Madonna began to become the Queen of Pop with her self-titled album in 1983, Pittman photographed her at the club Danceteria in 1979.
“I went up to her … and she wasn't Madonna then,” Pittman recalls. “But I liked her look and I wanted her to exchange T-shirts with me. She had this T-shirt that I really liked. And I said, 'Let's go to the bathroom and exchange T-shirts.' And she didn't want to do it, because she didn't want to ruin the thing she was wearing on her head.”
Nevertheless, Pittman was impressed with the then-unknown Madonna. “She was really nice,” he said. “We chatted for a while and got along well.”
Keith Richards and Patty Hansen
At the White Ball held at the Ritz-Carlton in 1980, Pittman captured a candid moment among the Rolling Stones keith richards and he met his future wife, model Patti Hansen, before the two married in 1983.
“This photo of Keith and Patty is from one of their first dates, when they met,” he said “That's what's so special about it. Patty was with Keith. But who wasn't with Keith?”
Halston, Liza Minnelli and Betty Ford
At another fabulous night at Studio 54 — at the Martha Graham Awards ceremony honoring Halston in 1981 — Pittman spotted the designer seated next to Liza Minnelli with former First Lady Betty Ford on his lap.
“Talk about vulnerable moments — there were no bodyguards around,” Pittman said. “It was like total freedom.”
Brooke Shields and Jack Nicholson
In 1981, Pittman apprehended a juvenile brooke shields Rubbing shoulders with Jack Nicholson at a party held at Calvin Klein's apartment – a year after the designer's jeans became a sensation.
“It was a great party,” Pittman recalled. “Everybody was there … Iman, Christopher Reeve, Janice Dickinson.
“Jack and Brooke started talking … and they actually became friends,” he said. “I fell in love with her. And Jack was awesome, man.”
