Curious Things!
After watching a documentary called Stardust on David Bailey and his exhibition of past portraiture photography (Not a retrospective) I found out about a man with a very varied career, spanning 50+ years.
Source http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/bailey/exhibition/in-conversation.php
Starting out as a young curious 13 year old David took his mums camera out and basically messed around........He's said himself that he wanted to take photographs of birds and make them look like Disney had. He'd take shots of pigeons and sparrows and with the help of a teacher at school learnt to develop them. He idolized the trumpet jazz player Chet Baker and as he himself was learning trumpet wanted to photograph himself looking like the pictures of Baker. These photos taken by William Claxton would later be some sort of influence to Bailey. (if not already from the curiousness of the young age)
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| chet baker - Bailey wanted to look like him |
Bailey who was dyslexic was encouraged by a friend at 16 to learn to read and write. He was introduced to the work of Picasso and his interest in art blossomed. The renaissance period in particular captured a sense of style in him that later he referenced in his work.......Saying, like the renaissance artists drew women in all the glory without the imperfections or scars of life, photography did the same with the likes of Photoshop....
When talking about portraiture photography he said he liked to capture the true self of the person.
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| Bailey |
This was where Bailey was different and maybe this gave him an edge on other photographers working at the time of 1960's. Bailey entered the world of Vogue magazine doing bits and pieces of work but also doing freelance (vogue would have been a hard venture to break for an east end rogue like Bailey at the time) With the youth of him and two others Bailey had an edge and mixed with alot of famous and well known people. He probably would of never thought a 54 year love hate relationship was starting out at the magazine.
The fashion photography later gave him his reputation and his style and his sense of approach to how fashion was viewed changed the world of fashion......no longer boring back drops of models in rooms, David took the model out into the world around them and created not only a image but a photograph in the sense of changed view. Location photography.. Bailey couldn't careless about a the pretty dress!
This is where for me I make a connection with Picasso......The ever changing processes and reinvent fullness that Picasso also had in his career.
What makes a successful artist?
Bailey said he just looked and seen. Quote, “I’m interested in people,” he says, “and whatever you see in the photograph, whether you call it glamour or drama or edge, it’s already in that person. I can’t put it there. It’s finding it and bringing it out. I can see the moment when they look the way I want them to look, or the way I think they should look or they don’t want to look, or whatever. It’s the moment that counts. It’s the only thing we’ve got in life really, and nothing captures it the way a stills camera does.”
Notice the black frame on the photos.This is how Bailey intended them to be and doesn't want them cropped.
Bailey said he looks around and sees design everywhere - everyone or thing important.... So what makes a photographer? Is it as simple as looking through a lens and snapping what you see? Is it passion or having the balls to get stuck it.... Is it life and your upbringing!
Do photographers choose or does photography choose them
How different are artists to photographers?
From fashion to editorial to location photography what is the real difference...What defines the style or image to determine such a difference.. Like the use of typography as an art form, its everywhere and yet most of us don't notice or even care about the careful selection or purpose/difference of wording....
With photography its the closest thing we have to history or capturing a moment or person.
David's work could fall under these categories,
Location Photography as I understand is done somewhere other than a studio....maybe outside and the photographer may have to think quick for a setting, weather, distance, lighting and angles etc... its a bit more free or so I think?
Editorial Photography is similar to fashion or location but more to define in photo form what a story maybe trying to portray in a magazine or paper. Fit for the purpose!
Fashion Photography its all about the product or style. It is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines. Photographing garments but also interpret the underlying ideas or themes of the season, the clothing range, the designer or the brand. A lot of shoots are done in the studio.
However the way he documented history with his work over the years (sixties) I'm sure he defiantly could be an example in many other areas......His producing of advertising and stage and film!
What a story, not bad for a cockney geezer from the East End.
Also looked at some of his adventure work
Outside our culture we are all the same!
Bailey has spent time travelling the remotest parts of the world.
Nagaland
http://anglianomega.net/david-baileys-epic-journey-in-to-nagaland/
Papua New Guinea in 1974
David Bailey directs the Valentino Men’s Spring/Summer 2016 campaign and has his finger in many ads or campaigns of fashion. See his moving image which I think has a somewhat surrealist touch to it.
http://www.visualartists.co/artist/davidbailey/movingimage/
MY VIEW, well as I'm just starting out I can't really say to much or appreciate the work of David Bailey as many would. But in truth I'm inspired by his view and working relationships. Either with people or subject. The way he engages with the people and brings out the sense of a person.
Timing and knowledge would have taken time to learn but with a curiosity like he had I can see how the working life would have been fun. Again I seem to be writing about doing what you love or being true to yourself etc.....etc...as a final conclusion. Many artists have spoken of these same quotes or similar words over the topics I've covered so far. What a career and I know I will be curious myself to learn more either on photography or Bailey himself!
some more famous faces!
| love his roughness |
Sources of photos from google images
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