Iconic images
Six celebrated photographers: six famous faces
A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery offers a glamorous insight into the world of fashion portraiture
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINATES our visual culture and it has evolved so much as an art form that it now influences our perceptions of beauty and fame. This exhibition focuses on five key fashion photographers: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, Corinne Day, Steven Klein, Paolo Roversi and Mario Sorrenti. Between them they have collaborated with some of the biggest names, from supermodels to Hollywood actresses, producing astonishing images of those famous faces. 15 February – 28 May, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE; +44 (0)207 306 0055; www.npg.org.uk
AMERICAN ACTRESS SHARON STONE PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIO SORRENTI, APRIL 2006
Stone was a model before she became an actress and is clearly at ease in front of the camera in both roles. She was 48 when this striking image was featured on the front cover of Harpers Bazaar (US). It coincided with the launch of Basic Instinct 2, in which she reprised her role of Catherine Trammell, the part that had catapulted her to A-list stardom in 1992.
FRENCH ACTRESS AND MODELCATHERINE DENEUVE PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARIO SORRENTI, DECEMBER 2003
Sorrenti concentrated on capturing the individuality of his subject. This clearly shines through in this image for French Vogue of the 1960s icon. Deneuve is best remembered for her performance in Belle De Jour in 1967. She was married to English photographer David Bailey at the time. She then went on to become Yves Saint Laurent’s muse in the 1970s and the face of L’Oréal in 2001, at the age of 57.
AMERICAN ACTRESS DREW BARRYMORE PHOTOGRAPHED BY MERT ALAS & MARCUS PIGGOT, 2005
Alas and Piggott have collaborated since 1991, creating glamorous but edgy work for magazines such as W, Vogue and Pop, in which this image appeared. Barrymore shot to fame in Steven Spielberg’s film E.T. in 1982, aged seven, and after several tumultuous years, resurrected herself as a respected Hollywood actress and producer.
BRITISH DESIGNER JOHN GALLIANO PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAOLO ROVERSI, 2005
Roversi has worked consistently in fashion and is renowned for taking tender and respectful portraits of his subjects. Galliano is one of the most influential fashion designers of our time. He launched his own label before becoming chief designer of Christian Dior in 1996.
BRITISH MODEL KATE MOSS PHOTOGRAPHED BY CORINNE DAY, 1990
Moss was discovered by Sarah Doukas, head of Storm Model Management, in an airport in 1988, when she was 14. Day launched Moss’ career when she shot some photographs of her for The Face magazine a year later. This previously unpublished image shows an almost unrecognisable Moss at 16.
SAVANNAH KNOOP AS JT LEROY
PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVEN KLEIN, 2001
Klein is renowned for creating collaborative and narrative images. This photograph perpetuated the mystery of the identity of the American author JT LeRoy. For years the author hid “his” identity and generated publicity by appearing in disguises. It was recently revealed that 40 year-old Laura Albert from Brooklyn was LeRoy. Her sister-in-law Knoop sat for this portrait to help perpetuate the mystery.
Words: Emma Juhasz
