Eugene Adebari's work instantly touches an emotional chord in you in the same way that the very best of photographic portrait work does. It has a very special quality of intimacy and intensity that could be expressed as a contradiction in terms - 'hard-hitting sensitivity'. It is dependent on an enviable level of trust he has earned from his subjects, portraying them in a thoughtful and intimate fashion. Brandt could. Bailey and Liebovitz can.
Largely self-taught, having joined the internationally renowned agency Rex at the age of 16 as a tea boy, Eugene developed his career in the classic fashion from the ground up.
For his first shoot, Adebari was commissioned to photograph Marvin Gaye in Los Angeles, which led directly to a portrait session with Michael Jackson during the Billie Jean campaign and he has never looked back.
Eugene went on to photograph major music events, including Live Aid and many of the world's most successful, prolific and famous artists. His informal yet intimate approach to portraiture led to him to being specially commissioned by performers such as Madonna, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, INXS and Michael Jackson to spend time documenting their travels on the road with unprecedented access. His works have appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide, including Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, NME, Vogue, GQ, Spin, US, Sunday Times Magazine, Q, Elle and CNN. Eugene's work also encompassed film and he visited film sets as a 'specials' photographer, documenting the making of movies and shooting images for film posters. He was currently working on a major project shooting in Kerala in India.
"I've had the fantastic opportunity and good fortune to photograph some of the most talented and interesting personalities and have often been lucky enough to have the access to capture them in unusual, informal and casual situations".
Eugene Adebari 1960 - 2008
Backstage at the video shoot for the hit single 'You'll See' shot in Spain, October 1995
Rolling Stones onstage on their celebrated Steel Wheels Tour in Los Angeles in October 1989
Mick Jagger & Keith Richards performing onstage during The Rolling Stones 1989 Steel Wheels Tour in October 1989.
Los Angeles October 1989, Keith Richards performs onstage on The Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Tour
This shoot of Madness in New York City in February 1980 was for Issue No.1 of a new magazine that developed cult status, The Face.
Cover art for the live single of Wish You Were Here. 'What you see is what you get - two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl'
Prince performing at his first ever UK gig at the Lyceum, London in 1981
Amy Winehouse captured in the corridor of the Union Chapel - "She seemed particularly happy that night and made references to a loved one "
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960 and widely regarded as the most influential acts of the rock era.
The Jam were an English punk rock/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey.
Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter & arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist & writer. He has been influential in popular music & culture for more than five decades.
The Rolling Stones have been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years. Our collections share the best images spanning their career
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
We are delighted to share our brand new collection of Bob Dylan prints by photographer Arthur Rosato taken in 1980 during the 'Gospel Years'
Welcome to our Folk & Country Print Collection - iconic images of the world's greatest artists from the past 50 years
