Trends in contemporary portrait and fashion photography

Many photographers in the past have had dynamic careers that have influenced many up and coming photographers and will for years to come. Because their work at the time has been preserved in inspirational and innovative images of their eras rock legends and cultural icons, similarities yet progressions can been seen through a comparison of photographers such as David Bailey, Anne Liebovitz and Rankin one of today's most talked photographers.

David Baileys career was at a high between the years of 1957 and 1969 and was most famous for his striking black and white images of icons including John lennon and Paul McCartney; Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton and the Kray Twins. At this time Bailey was making a revolutionary progression to 35mm cameras at the beginning of the 60's. The SLR camera Bailey purchased in '61 allowed him the flexibility to loosen up the fashion genre. For example on of his early fashion shoots for Vogue 'Young idea goes west' featured Jean Shrimpton in the chaotic urban environment of New York. These photographs epitomized a new street realism and marked a drastic departure from the Static formally posed fashion and portrait photography of the previous decade. Bailey's mapping of the '60s was marked by two collections of portraits; David Bailey's Box of Pin-ups in 1965 and Goodbye Baby and Amen in 1969. Powerful portraits of musicians including Mick Jagger, Lennon and McCartney reflect the stature of these 60s media heroes in these volumes. And actors such as Michael Caine and Marianne Faithful. Along with models Jean Shrimpton and Sue Murray.  (Continued)