Bruce Weber, the legendary photographer who transformed unknown faces into famous models and captured the world's biggest stars, has released a massive photo book filled with memories from his illustrious career. The 79-year-old American photographer revolutionized advertising photography and left an indelible mark on popular culture through his iconic imagery.
Weber's most famous contribution to advertising history came in 1983 when he completely transformed the image of underwear through a groundbreaking Calvin Klein campaign. His photograph of athlete Tom Hintnaus wearing white cotton briefs stopped pedestrians in their tracks when it appeared several stories high on a billboard in New York's Times Square. This iconic image gave underwear an entirely new image and continues to influence fashion advertising today, with actors, musicians, and other celebrities still eager to be photographed in the iconic underwear brand.
The photographer's new book, titled "My Education," published by Taschen, spans 564 pages in English, German, and French and retails for 125 euros. In this comprehensive collection, Weber reflects on his life, the people who taught him, and those he has worked with throughout his career. The book showcases his central focus on people as subjects, whether photographed nude, clothed, or costumed, in erotic poses or with their entire families.
Family has always held great significance for Weber, even during times of disagreement. He fondly recalls a visit from his father to New York, sharing an amusing anecdote: "I said: 'Dad, when you walk through Times Square, you're going to get a kick out of this because there are five of my photographs hanging on Calvin Klein billboards.' The next day he didn't mention the photos, and when I asked him if he had seen them, he replied: 'Yes, I did. I still think you should do something serious.'" The irony of this story lies in the fact that Weber's father was also a photographer.
Weber's approach to photographing people is characterized by love and compassion. The radiance of his models clearly shows that they trust the man behind the camera. Despite earning his living through fashion photography, his new photo book contains numerous motifs that appear like private snapshots, revealing his more intimate and personal artistic vision.
Beyond photography, Weber's passion extends to filmmaking, where he has also achieved significant success. At the 1989 Academy Awards ceremony, "Let's Get Lost," a documentary film about jazz musician Chet Baker that Weber directed with his wife, was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category. This recognition demonstrated Weber's versatility as an artist and his ability to excel in multiple creative mediums.
The photographer's loving gaze toward his subjects has remained consistent throughout his career, whether capturing Hollywood legends like Elizabeth Taylor with her great-grandson Finn McMurray in Los Angeles, California in 2002, or working with emerging talent. His ability to make his subjects feel comfortable and trusted has been a hallmark of his work, contributing to the authentic and intimate quality that distinguishes his photographs from typical commercial imagery.
