Album Covers Shot by Photographer Jonathan Mannion

On National Camera Day, we look at the work of J.M.

Jay Z, Jonathan Mannion, Eminem

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Straight Shooter - Jonathan Mannion is one of the most respected photographers in the music industry and has captured some of your favorite artists over the years as they graced the covers and pages of magazines like VIBE, XXL and The Source. His portfolio also includes some of your favorite album covers like Jay Z's Vol. 2...Knock Life and Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP just to name a few. In observance of National Camera Day, let's take a look at a few albums with which he brought his photogenic eye. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Roc A Fella Records, Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Courvoiser, Interscope Records)

Nas – God's Son (2002) - Jonathan made Nas look at the camera when they worked together for the visuals for his sixth release.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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Nas – God's Son (2002) - Jonathan made Nas look at the camera when they worked together for the visuals for his sixth release.(Photo: Columbia Records)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Records

Akon – Konvicted (2006) - Jonathan stepped in and helped brighten Akon's shine even more when he photographed the R&B crooner's sophomore album jacket and cover.  (Photo: Konvict Records)

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Akon – Konvicted (2006) - Jonathan stepped in and helped brighten Akon's shine even more when he photographed the R&B crooner's sophomore album jacket and cover.  (Photo: Konvict Records)

Photo By Photo: Konvict Records

Ludacris – Back for the First Time (2000) - Jonathan made Luda's photo vision a reality when he shot his debut and then kept the flashes rolling for The Red Light District and DTP's Golden Grain.(Photo: Island Def Jam)

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Ludacris – Back for the First Time (2000) - Jonathan made Luda's photo vision a reality when he shot his debut and then kept the flashes rolling for The Red Light District and DTP's Golden Grain.(Photo: Island Def Jam)

Photo By Photo: Island Def Jam

Freeway – Philadelphia Freeway (2003) - Mannion captured the flip side of the City of Brotherly Love when he shot Freeway's debut.(Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

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Freeway – Philadelphia Freeway (2003) - Mannion captured the flip side of the City of Brotherly Love when he shot Freeway's debut.(Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

Photo By Photo: Def Jam Recordings

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Nelly – Country Grammar (2000) - Jonathan Mannion put pictures to Nelly's Country Grammar in 2000 and captured the Midwest King again with Nellyville, Sweat, Suit, and Brass Knuckles.(Photo: Universal Records)

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Nelly – Country Grammar (2000) - Jonathan Mannion put pictures to Nelly's Country Grammar in 2000 and captured the Midwest King again with Nellyville, Sweat, Suit, and Brass Knuckles.(Photo: Universal Records)

Kelis – Kaleidoscope (1999) - J.M. caught Kelis out there when he captured the essence of her Kaleidoscope. (Photo: Virgin Records)

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Kelis – Kaleidoscope (1999) - J.M. caught Kelis out there when he captured the essence of her Kaleidoscope. (Photo: Virgin Records)

Photo By Photo: Virgin Records

DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998) - Mannion got X to stand still for a photo shoot when he shot the pictures for Earl's classic debut, It's Drak and Hell Is Hot. X also barked for the camera when Jonathan pulled out the props for Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and Grand Champ.(Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

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DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998) - Mannion got X to stand still for a photo shoot when he shot the pictures for Earl's classic debut, It's Drak and Hell Is Hot. X also barked for the camera when Jonathan pulled out the props for Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and Grand Champ.(Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II (2005) - Wayne had Mannion's camera on fire when he shot Tha Carter II and III and Rebirth.(Photo: Cash Money / Universal Records)

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Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II (2005) - Wayne had Mannion's camera on fire when he shot Tha Carter II and III and Rebirth.(Photo: Cash Money / Universal Records)

Photo By Photo: Cash Money / Universal Records

The Game – The Documentary (2005) - Game let Mannion have creative control when he shot the Compton MC's debut album cover and he loved the outcome so much that he called him up again to shoot Doctor's Advocate, LAX and The R.E.D. Album. (Photo: Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope Records)

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The Game – The Documentary (2005) - Game let Mannion have creative control when he shot the Compton MC's debut album cover and he loved the outcome so much that he called him up again to shoot Doctor's Advocate, LAX and The R.E.D. Album. (Photo: Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope Records)

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Ol' Dirty Bastard – N***a Please (1999) - J.M. brought Dirty's Rick James fascination to reality when he styled and shot N***a Please.(Photo: Elektra Records)

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Ol' Dirty Bastard – N***a Please (1999) - J.M. brought Dirty's Rick James fascination to reality when he styled and shot N***a Please.(Photo: Elektra Records)

Photo By Photo: Elektra Records

Anthony Hamilton – The Point of It All  (2008) - Jonathan Mannion is also a huge R&B fan and got the chance to work with one of his favorite artists, Anthony Hamilton, on his fourth soulful LP.(Photo: Arista Records)

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Anthony Hamilton – The Point of It All  (2008) - Jonathan Mannion is also a huge R&B fan and got the chance to work with one of his favorite artists, Anthony Hamilton, on his fourth soulful LP.(Photo: Arista Records)

Ja Rule – Rule 3:36 (2000) - Ja and Jonathan have had a great working relationship over the years as he helped the Hollis MC bring his visuals for Rule 3:36, Pain Is Love, The Mirror, Pain Is Love II and The Last Temptation to life. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

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Ja Rule – Rule 3:36 (2000) - Ja and Jonathan have had a great working relationship over the years as he helped the Hollis MC bring his visuals for Rule 3:36, Pain Is Love, The Mirror, Pain Is Love II and The Last Temptation to life. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

Chamillionaire – Ultimate Victory (2007) - Mannion lensed Chamillionaire as he rode dirty on The Sound of Revenge and Ultimate Victory.(Photo: Chamillitary/ Universal Records)

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Chamillionaire – Ultimate Victory (2007) - Mannion lensed Chamillionaire as he rode dirty on The Sound of Revenge and Ultimate Victory.(Photo: Chamillitary/ Universal Records)

Photo By Photo: Chamillitary/ Universal Records

Fabolous – From Nothin' to Somethin' (2007) - J.M. captured Fab going From Nothin' to Somethin' and helped him express his photogenic side for Real Talk.

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Fabolous – From Nothin' to Somethin' (2007) - J.M. captured Fab going From Nothin' to Somethin' and helped him express his photogenic side for Real Talk.

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Amerie – All I Have (2002) - Amerie smiled for Jonathan's camera for her debut project.(Photo: Columbia Records)

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Amerie – All I Have (2002) - Amerie smiled for Jonathan's camera for her debut project.(Photo: Columbia Records)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Records

Trina – Still Da Baddest (2008) - Trina was spitting bullets and lyrics on her fourth LP cover thanks to J.M.(Photo: Slip-n-Slide/EMI Records)

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Trina – Still Da Baddest (2008) - Trina was spitting bullets and lyrics on her fourth LP cover thanks to J.M.(Photo: Slip-n-Slide/EMI Records)

Photo By Photo: Slip-n-Slide/EMI Records

Jay Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996) - We all know that Reasonable Doubt was the debut album of Jigga but it's also the first album cover Mannion shot, too. Taking an initial gamble with each other, the photographic memories continued with In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3... Life and Times of Shawn Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint and The Black Album.(Photo: Roc A Fella Records)

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Jay Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996) - We all know that Reasonable Doubt was the debut album of Jigga but it's also the first album cover Mannion shot, too. Taking an initial gamble with each other, the photographic memories continued with In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3... Life and Times of Shawn Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint and The Black Album.(Photo: Roc A Fella Records)

Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) - Eminem was impressed with Mannion's work and got the call back for both The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP.(Photo: Aftermath/ Interscope Records)

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Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) - Eminem was impressed with Mannion's work and got the call back for both The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP.(Photo: Aftermath/ Interscope Records)

Photo By Photo: Aftermath/ Interscope Records

Young Jeezy – The Recession (2008) - Jonathan captured Jeezy's thoughts and feelings visually for the Snowman's 2008 trap saga. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

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Young Jeezy – The Recession (2008) - Jonathan captured Jeezy's thoughts and feelings visually for the Snowman's 2008 trap saga. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)

Photo By Photo: Def Jam Recordings