11/6/17. I truly felt fortunate to be able to catch this biopic of a woman photographer who was at the top of her game for decades! A talented photographer who was basically self-taught and had that special eye for catching the essence of her subjects. She was always much older than those she photographed but that never stopped her from producing the finest photos of her time. Worth catching!

Jini Dellaccio was the first to capture what it means to be a rock star and human at the same time. She shows us real musicians in their beauty, glory, and exhaustion, interacting authentically with their surroundings and their collaborators. It was so thrilling for me to watch this pure art process come to life on the screen. Personally I would love for many more people to be aware of the enormous contribution that Jini has made to American art. Witnessing true, passionately-created art brings energy and joy to our hearts. I saw this happen before my eyes at a recent screening of Her Aim Is True, where every audience member was touched by the power, authenticity, and purity that the work of this artist brings to our heritage.

Two years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Jini Dellaccio for a magazine article I was writing. To meet Jini is to be swept up in the "Jini magic"--for to meet her is to be inspired by her. I am roughly the same age (that would be solidly middle-aged) as Jini was when she began photographing the garage rock bands of the Pacific Northwest, but this was just one remarkable stop on a career she made up as she went along. Jini never met a challenge she couldn't tackle--if she didn't know how to do something, she told people she did and then figured out how to do it. This is why I try to channel Jini now when I find myself thinking I'm too old to try something new. Director Karen Whitehead has perfectly captured the pioneering spirit of this remarkable woman in her film "Her Aim Is True." I've seen it three times, and I still choke up in the same spots. Jini was a woman ahead of her time, but she accomplished what she did without any of the modern-day self-promotion we are so used to; she let the work speak for itself, and it is breathtaking work, make no doubt about it. See the movie if you are a rock history buff (the archival footage is fascinating), but be prepared to come away inspired by the woman who made so many of those bands come alive, all while remaining true to her own vision. Jini is a true original, and we are fortunate indeed to have this film tribute to her life and work.

Karen Whitehead's film is an elegant time machine in which we are observers to an extraordinary life. We soon discover Jini Dellaccio is far more that just photographer, she is a loving wife, loyal friend, talented musician and gracious storyteller. I grew up in Portland and Seattle, Her Aim Is True captures both Jini's spectacular photography and the unique Northwest 60s punk and rock culture. In her 40s her revolutionary black and white photography created iconic album covers for The Sonics and The Wailers. Later Jini's would photograph the early performances by The Who, Rolling Stones, Mitch Ryder and Mamas & Papas. Karen captures every element with raw cinematic artistry.