Brian Duffy (or just plain 'Duffy' to his friends) was one of the three photographers who defined the look of London's 'Swinging Sixties'. Together with David Bailey and Terence Donovan they were affectionately named by Norman Parkinson as the 'Black Trinity' and were elevated to celebrity status and known only by their surnames.
Duffy attended St. Martins School of Art was enrolled in an art course but quickly realised that his contemporaries were more talented and he switched course to dress design. This held him in good stead throughout his photographic career as he understood the drape and fall of fabric and how to play with proportion. In 1957 Brian Duffy started his photographic career at Vogue; a relationship that continued into the 1970’s however he always claimed that he did his best fashion work with French Elle where his creative and artistic freedom was allowed to flourish. When the Sunday Magazines were established Duffy was a frequent contributor as well as continuing his work with all the major British and US glossy magazines. The surrealistic Benson & Hedges advertisements in the late 70’s and the groundbreaking Smirnoff campaign won Duffy acclaim and awards. The concepts that were established then are still utilised today.
Duffy was an eclectic and innovative photographer and one of the few photographers to have shot three Pirelli calendars (the first in 1965 and two more in 1973 for different divisions) In addition to his fashion, portraiture and advertising work; Duffy is perhaps best known for his collaboration with David Bowie. He shot five sessions with Bowie, and three album covers – Aladdin Sane, Lodger and Scary Monsters. The most recognised is the Aladdin Sane album cover nicknamed the 'Mona Lisa of Pop’. In 2013 an image from the contact sheet was chosen as the lead image for the worldwide touring Victoria & Albert museum's exhibition 'David Bowie is’ which has had over 1.5m visitors.
Since the inception of the archive in 2008 Brian Duffy’s work has been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and is highly collectable. Recently he was voted one of the top 100 most influential photographers of all time and well thought of as a ‘photographer’s photographer’.
Aladdin Sane is the one image that has defined David Bowie and is nicknamed the 'Mona Lisa of Pop' - Shot by Duffy in his London studio.
John Lennon captured by legendary music photographer Brian Duffy in 1965
Official contact sheet print from the acclaimed Duffy archive of David Bowie in his Scary Monsters Pierrot costume in 1980.
The Aladdin Sane image was digitally remastered to a black and white negative format by Chris Duffy in 2012
Contact sheet from the Scary Monsters photo shoot taken during the last of Duffy's 'Five Sessions' with David Bowie
Debbie Harry of Blondie on a photo shoot taken by legendary Brian Duffy in London in 1977
Official Duffy photograph of David Bowie sitting with a Scottie Dog during a pre-production meeting for the Scary Monsters photo shoot
Taken from the Scary Monsters album cover shoot by Duffy in 1980, 'the most beautiful clown in the circus' - David Bowie
Alternative shot taken from the Aladdin Sane 'photo shoot in 1973, known as 'Eyes Open' - this image was rediscovered in the archive in 2011
Pete Townshend throws his guitar live whilst The Who perform at Madison Square Gardens in the US, 1979.
Limited edition screen print of Amy Winehouse by artist David Studwell.
Nick Cave relaxing in a Brazilian rooftop bar with Saõ Paolo as the backdrop. Taken in February 1994
Colour image of Pink Floyd performing during their British Winter tour in 1974
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Devo is an American rock band, formed in 1973 their music mingles science fiction themes, surrealist humor & satirical social commentary.
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Noel Gallagher is regarded as one of the UK’s most respected musicians and the mastermind behind Britpop super group Oasis.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
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