HIS LENS HAS CAPTURED OVER ONE HUNDRED VOGUE TITLES AND COUNTLESS SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS FOR COMPANIES SUCH AS PRADA AND CHANEL BEAR HIS SIGNATURE.
Watson’s breakthrough came in 1973 with a picture that he still regards as the most significant of his career: Alfred Hitchcock with a plucked goose. Since then he has exposed thousands upon thousands of films and in the process covered almost every genre. He effortlessly switches between portraits, landscape photography, photo reports and fashion photography. While a number of his colleagues develop a certain look or concentrate on a certain subject, Watson consistently looks for the perfect solution for each new challenge. With his illustrated book “Morocco”, he created a visual hymn to the country and its people. He photographed the socks of the mummified Pharaoh Tutankhamen and passionately portrayed apes. Most recently he researched the phenomenon Las Vegas in all its aspects with provocative nude photographs, atmospherically dense views of late-night motels or desolate billboards in the expanse of Nevada.
He placed Grace Jones naked onto the back of her partner at the time, Dolph Lundgren, playfully undermining sexism and racism issues. He photographed the 19-year young Kate Moss squatting naked on the floor, which immediately triggered the observer’s protective instinct. His pictures always seek to communicate with the observer. Regardless of whether he is photographing the rich and famous or snake charmers in North Africa, cotton farmers in Benin or the lonely Scottish coast – his pictures captivate the viewer. No surprise that the photographer, who was born in Scotland and lives in New York, ranks as one of the greats in his business. His pictures of Sade, Mick Jagger and Jack Nicholson are viewed as icons of photography, characterised by their sophisticated composition and exceptional lighting concept. They raise the bar in portrait photography and make Albert Watson himself an icon of his art.
BASICALLY I’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS. ANY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW.
Photos Copyrights: Albert Watson,
Portrait Watson: Gloria Rodríguez
