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ICONO
GRAPHER
60
BY ROBERT KIENER
PPM AG.COM
Jack Nicholson
STAR-STUDDED,
DOWN TO EARTH
The story is classic Bailey. Its funny,
whimsical, and self-deprecating. Incidentally, no one calls him David Bailey or,
God forbid, Mr. Bailey.
Im just Bailey, he says as he welcomes
me into his studio, a former London mews
house (stables) built in 1780. He laughs as he
says, But youcan call me whatever you want.
Like many of the artists, musicians, and
actors Bailey has photographed over the
past six decades (his earlest works captured
1960s Swinging London), the 76-year-old
has become world-famous. He was the
inspiration for the movie Blow Up, Queen
Elizabeth honored him with a CBE, and hes
often cited as the best photographer in the
world. His recent one-man curated show at
Londons National Portrait Gallery, Baileys
Stardust, drew rave reviews and huge crowds.
Flipping through Baileys lifetime of work
is like journeying through a photographic
Whos Who of the late 20th and early 21st
centuries. There are instantly recognizable portraits of everybody who wasand
isanybody, from Jean Shrimpton and
Mick Jagger to Mother Theresa and Jack
Nicholson. Its thrilling, if a bit exhausting,
to sample this massive portfolio of brilliant photography, and its no wonder
that Bailey confesses, Im beginning to
feel a bit tired now and then. But Im not
getting old; Im wearing out. He laughs
and adds, Theres a difference, you know.
Ill never be an old fart.
While he used to photograph every day, he
now captures a few portraits a week. Theres
not enough time in a day to do everything
I want to do, he says. He sculpts, makes
short films, and paints.
When I ask him what its like for a photographer to be described as an artist, as
he often is, he stops me and says, Am I an
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BON MOTS
ACCORDING TO DAVID BAILEY
If something becomes old-fashioned, it was
no good to start with. Think about it. Michelangelo is not old-fashioned.
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When asked if he has any special techniques to get a response from people, he
bristles: I dont do tricks. I just talk.
Although he left school at age 15 hes well
read and will leaven his conversation with
a quote from anyone from Aristotle to Alan
Bennett. I usually find I have something
to talk about with almost everyone I photograph, he explains.
Hes famously said that he has to fall
in love with my subjects to fully capture
them. He explains, You have to give them all
your attention for as long as it takes, whether
its 10 minutes or three.
Catherine Bailey
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Jean Shrimpton
visualartists.co/artist/davidbailey
Robert Kiener is a writer based in Vermont.
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