PRINCETON - Lots of people have Bruce Springsteen stories, but not many can talk about the times they worked with "The Boss" personally.
Earlier this month, hundreds packed the McCosh Lecture Hall at Princeton University to hear professional photographers tell their inside stories about how some of the most iconic images of Springsteen came to be.
Forty two of those images - some iconic - appear in a show called "Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey" at Morven Museum and Garden through May 21, 2017.
The panel discussion, featuring five of the six photographers whose work appears in the show, was moderated by Robert Santelli, executive director of the GRAMMY Museum.
The only photographer not present was Pamela Springsteen, Bruce's sister.
A look behind the scenes of the Morven exhibit
The audience listened attentively as Danny Clinch, who apprenticed under famed portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz, relayed how Springsteen was asked out of all the available photographers, why he liked working with him.
Clinch, in his best Springsteen impression, answered "Because Danny's got soul."
When each was asked to name their favorite photograph, Eric Meola instead told about a couple of ones that got away - a sore spot for every professional photographer.
One was catching up with Springsteen in an airport the day Elvis Presley died. Meola recounted how as he approached, he saw Bruce sitting on some luggage reading a newspaper with the headline proclaiming the end of Elvis.
Bruce put the paper down and noticed Meola coming and at that point the moment was gone. "I wasn't about to ask him to recreate it."
Following the discussion, which ended with questions from the audience, photographers mingled in a meet-and-greet reception at Morven.
Two more Springsteen-related programs are scheduled around the exhibit - The Theologies of Bruce Springsteen on March 23 at the Center of Theological Inquiry, and Springsteen on the Radio at The Present Day Club on April 6.
Details are available of the exhibit website.
Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook
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