"A fashion photographer should contribute to defining the image of the contemporary woman or man in their time, to reflect a certain social or human reality. How surrealistic is today’s commercial agenda
to retouch all signs of life and of experience, to retouch the very personal truth of the face itself?"Peter Lindbergh1944 - 2019
I was so saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of photographer Peter Lindbergh last week at the age of 74. A longtime fashion industry favorite, Lindbergh was celebrated for his iconic signature style and monochrome images which were both cinematic and intimate at the same time. He was a storyteller who had a way of capturing the intrinsic spirit of anyone who sat in front of his lens and transporting viewers into a different world. I first learned photography through black and white film and Peter Lindbergh was someone who I studied and admired because I wanted to do fashion photography back then. I lost interest in that after working in the industry but I never lost my admiration for his work.
His unique vision redefined fashion photography and he broke new ground by staying true to his principles. Choosing veracity over artifice and the unrealistic standards of the fashion world, he eschewed retouching and Photoshop while highlighting the natural beauty of his subjects. Beauty to Lindbergh was not about perfection and youth but emotions. He once said "Not using Photoshop is an ethical choice and not an aesthetic one. Photoshop removes humanity: signs of time and experience are simply erased. I am convinced that true beauty can only result from self-acceptance, from the awareness of who we are: it is a matter of identity." I was fortunate enough to get to witness him at work on a few occasions and they were experiences I hold dear. This magical Harper's Bazaar editorial photographed by Peter Lindbergh entitled Sheer Nights featuring model Linda Evangelista and actor Hugh Grant absolutely captivated me the very first time I saw it and it still remains one of my favorite fashion editorials of all time.
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