After attending art school, Brian Duffy (usually known only by his last name), decided that it would be “easier” to make images on camera than to draw them.
His career started in dress design, before going on to become an illustrator for Harper’s Bazaar. One day he came into the office and saw a contact sheet of multiple images – then the penny dropped, you can make many images a lot more quickly with a camera than with a pencil.
In the late 1950s, he was introduced to the editor of Vogue, Audrey Withers, who commissioned him for his first photographic job, to be shot on a Leica camera at the request of the famous sitter who had recently suffered a stroke and wanted to be photographed by something that doesn’t make a noise.
After that, he shot to fame and became part of the so-called “Black Trinity” consisting of him, David Bailey and Terence Donovan. The trio became known as that due to their “bad boy” reputation and tendency to dress in black.
Duffy became well-known for his love of photographing women, shooting portraits and his knack for solving technical problems. His legacy continues in the fashion and photography worlds to this day.
In this exhibition at the Leica Gallery London, opening to celebrate 50 years since the first eponymous gallery space opened in Wetzlar, Germany, collectors will also be able to get their hands on the vintage, rare prints.
Famous faces aplenty feature in this exhibition, including Michael Caine, David Hockney, Jean Shrimpton, Grace Coddington, Len Deighton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harry Secombe.
Duffy Fame Framed runs at the Leica Gallery in London until 9 July. Entry is free. Prints are not!
https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/event/gallery-london-duffy-fame-framed
Related reading:
- Photo Insight with Anastasia Taylor-Lind – Siberian Supermodels
- Vibrant, joyous, confident: these photos celebrate the 100th birthday of timeless beauty Marilyn Monroe
- Benson & Hedges Advert by Brian Duffy – Iconic Photograph
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