Brad Elterman

Madonna Meets The Press 1982

Madonna Meets The Press 1982

I was hired by Dick Clark's press agent to cover the American Music Awards nearly every year for a decade. I had incredible access and I wanted to make a great photograph of this new singer called Madonna. All of the photographers were crowded into an area that I would always refer to as the "bull pen.” In such a small space there is little potential to make a creative photograph. Since I had all access, I worked for this photo. I yelled out her name and caught her eye. I remember the displeasure of the publicist when the photo came out. Not because I did not make an interesting photograph but because you could not see the AMA logo in the background!