Task 1 David Bailey

David Bailey was born on the 2nd January,1938 and is a celebrated and famous photographer.

Born in London, England, he taught himself photography, before serving with the Royal Air Force in Malaysia in 1957. In 1959 he became a photographic assistant at the John French studio before being contracted as a fashion photographer for Vogue magazine. He also did a large amount of freelance work.

Along with Terence Donovan, he captured, and in many ways helped create the Swinging London of the 1960s: a culture of high fashion and celebrity chic. Both photographers socialised with actors, musicians and royalty, and found themselves elevated to celebrity status. Together, they were the first real celebrity photographers.

The Swinging London scene was aptly reflected in his Box of Pin-Ups (1964): a box of poster-prints of 1960s celebrities and socialites including Terence Stamp, The Beatles, and notorious East End gangsters The Kray Twins. The box was an unusal and unique commercial release, and it reflected the changing status of the photographer that one could sell a collection of prints in this way. (The strong objection to the presence of the Krays on the part of Lord Snowdon was the major reason no American edition of the "Box" ever appeared, nor a British second edition issued.)

In 1966, the movie Blowup was made. The film concerned itself with the work (and sexual perks) of a London fashion photographer who was largely based on Bailey.

As well as fashion photography, Bailey has been responsible for record album sleeve art, for performers including The Rolling Stones and Marianne Faithfull. He has also directed several television commercials and documentaries.

Bailey has married four times: in 1960 to Rosemary Bramble, in 1967 to the actress Catherine Deneuve (divorced 1972), in 1975 to the model Marie Helvin and in 1986 to the actress Catherine Dyer to whom he is married as of 2004. He was awarded the CBE in 2001.

He is an inspiration to me as he has shot many products in Fashion and Portraiture. However he mainly shoots things that are around the genre of Fashion.

Bailey also took shots for the famous fashion magazine Vogue. When he set up and even took an image for the front cover of the magazine he had a particular style in which he took the shot as the final images for the cover were always of the model and close up not showing the hole body. They would show anything above the hip to the top of the head. An example of which can be seen below 

Bailey has also had many books published with his work in displaying his passion for photography. When creating these books he worked all over the world with different Photographers. The most well known person who he has worked with is Rankin the famous fashion photographer. When Bailey and Rankin worked together they created a book, this was around 8 years ago in 2003 when the book was created, entitled Bailey/Rankin Down Under. A list of his books that he has had published are below 

Box of Pin-Ups, 1964


Goodbye Baby & Amen, 1969


Warhol, 1974


Beady Minces, 1974


Papua New Guinea, 1975


Mixed Moments, 1976


Trouble and Strife, 1980


Bailey NW1, 1982


Black & White Memories, 1983


Nudes 1981-1984,


Imagine, 1985


If We Shadows, 2001


The Lady is a Tramp, 1995


Rock & Roll Heroes, 1997


Archive One, 1999 (also titled The Birth of the Cool for USA)


Chasing Rainbows, 2001


Art of Violence, Kate Kray & David Bailey, 2003 (also titled as Diamond Geezers)


Bailey/Rankin Down Under, 2003


Archive Two: Locations, 2003


Bailey's Democracy, 2005)


Havana, 2006
NY JS DB 62, 2007


Pictures That Mark Can Do, 2007


Is That So Kid, 2008


David Bailey: 8 Minutes: Hirst & Bailey, 2009 With Damien Hirst

EYE, 2009


Flowers, Skulls, Contacts, 2010


British Heroes in Afghanistan, 2010