He was a photographer who was very eager to experiment with his photos. He had an enigmatic exchange with women. He found them mysterious.
Before his shoots, he would get to know the person so that he knew what they liked and what he would include in the shoot. He would figure out their moods, their good and bad sides of their faces, and how they would pose, this was all to capture their personality within the photo.
His style of photos are dangerous, as people would say, however he doesn't want to be classed as having a style. He is a minimalist, so he would only focus on the subject of the photo, which was the person in it.
His photos are almost like sophisticated passport pictures.
In David's own time, he likes to spend his time in Devon. He did a series of photographs during his time there, called 'Cabinet of Curiosities'. This was a series of photographs of skulls. He says that photography is about death, and close to reality, especially when you are looking through old photographs, some of the people in them have passed away, and you reminisce about them.
David Bailey collaborated with Martin Harrison, who is an art critic, on some books. David would shoot the photographs, and Martin would input with the text and layout.
He had an interest in birds, so he liked to photograph them too. He liked documenting them, and he had an eye for detail. His ability has grown from interest and ability to learn, he was also dyslexic.
He started off working for the Daily Express, where Vogue spotted him and wanted him to work for them. He was an assistant for John French, a fashion photographer. John French said he was interested in an 'outsider', and a working class person, he was 'unpolished' and 'raw', he wanted him to work for the upper class (conservative).
When Bailey started working for Vogue, the audience became younger, and understood the coded language of the fashion and clothing. His images were somewhat revolutionary, they were an undermining of images that had been created before.
He began photographing/ developing when he was young, he was attracted by the magical chemical process. Cartier Bresson made an impact on his original ideas of photography, the same depth of painting.
His influences include Visconci and Picasso. In 1960, he photographed a woman called Jean Shrimpton, who is a model and actress, at the time she was an unknown actress. He photographed her on the streets of New York. She was described as having a 'democratic beauty'.
Then in 1963, he did a studio shoot with her.
David Bailey had a friendship with Mick Jagger. He photographed him and a multitude of famous people. Some of them were coloured by Catherine Deneuve. He married Catherine, she was attracted by his unpredictable outlook, and eccentricity, and his powerful visceral style.
Michelangelo Antonioni made a film called 'Blow Up' about David Bailey. He portrayed his style and details of his lifestyle.
Bailey did a series a portraits called 'Goodbye Baby and Amen' 1970, this was a series of documentaries and interviews with artists. He asked querky and humerous questions.
He travelled the worl since the early 70's, such as places like Brazil, New Guinea, Hong Kong and more.
These places inspired him take photographs of other subjects and use different styles that are his own forte.
In 2010, he travelled to Afghanistan, and took photographs of the soldiers. He did this for charity, and wanted to support the work they do.
He also shoots still life photographs, he did a series of momento mori, which was of dead roses, skulls and bones, this was a recognition of his own death, showing that time is running out.
He has inshoot and vision in his work. It's an intuitive business. There is a silent language between the model and photographer. He adores beauty and women, and he brings the beauty out in them. They show their best side.
In his photographs, life is the main subject. He photographs anything and everything. He has a curiosity about everything.
No comments:
Post a Comment