Robert Whitaker was a renowned British photographer, best known internationally for his many photographs of The Beatles, taken between 1964 and 1966, and for his photographs of the rock group Cream, which were used in the Martin Sharp-designed collage on the cover of their 1967 LP Disraeli Gears.
He began his photographic career in London in the late 1950s but he moved to Melbourne in 1961, where he began studying at the University of Melbourne and became part of the small but flourishing Melbourne arts scene. According to art historian David Mellor, it was Whitaker's three years in Australia that transformed his work as a photographer. A major influence was undoubtedly his friendship with two of the leading figures of the Melbourne art world, art dealer, patron and restaurateur Georges Mora and his wife, the painter Mirka Mora.
He first came into contact with the Beatles in 1964, when they toured Australia. Whitaker was asked to photograph the band's manager, Brian Epstein, for a feature in Melbourne's Jewish News. "I saw Epstein was a bit of a peacock and a cavalier," said Whitaker, "and I put peacock feathers around his head in photographic relief. He was knocked out when he saw the picture."
In 2011 Robert sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer.
This iconic 'Umbrella' image was taken in Scotland in 1964 on the banks of Loch Earn.
The Beatles having fun at Cliveden House whilst taking a break from filming the comedy, Help in May 1965.
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a flower in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration'.
Shooting promotional films for the singles Rain & Paperback Writer at Chiswick Park Gardens in May 1966
John, Paul & George by the swimming pool at Cliveden House in 1965
Photo shoot of the fab four taken at Sheriff Road, London in 1965
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Buzzcocks captured in a public library whilst on a press session in Manchester in May 1977.
David Gilmour in Studio 3, at Abbey Road Studios. The band were recording Have a Cigar that day for their new album Wish You Were Here .
Alternative version of Interstellar poster artwork created for the 2003 Pink Floyd exhibition in Paris
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