Grab Your Diary: Self Reflection in Fashion Photography

Karl Lagerfeld for Harper’s Bazaar by William Klein 2007

Fashion geeks (sorry, make that aficionados) everywhere should aim to catch the short but snappy exhibition Fashion in the Mirror: Self Reflection in Fashion Photography on display until September 14^th at the Photographers’ Gallery, Great Newport Street. Just a short trot from Leicester Square tube, entrance is free and although the exhibit is relatively small it explores the relationship between photographer and fashion-subject, something which has an enormous impact on our perception of collections each season.

The exhibit includes snippets of the work of fashion photography royalty including Richard Avedon, Nick Knight, Helmut Newton and Mario Testino. I for one love the inspiration that fashion related exhibits can give and it is fabulous to see large prints of the work of people who help give shape to the world of fashion. I especially love the inspired work of Tim Walker, with Lily Cole in a stunningly glamorous black gown leaning against a giant camera.

In part the exhibit explores the breakdown of the assumption that fashion photography is automatically a more frivolous art form, instead recognising those photographers who looked beyond the generic fashion image and sought to inject wit and new ways of viewing fashion into their work.

And if intellectualizing fashion photography isn’t your game (let’s be honest, the pretty pictures are the best bit) then there are some beautiful, must-see shoots from Italian , Japanese and British Vogue, famous Twiggy shots and the fabulous representation of Anna ‘Nuclear’ Wintour’s inimitable, trademark style by Testino for French Vogue.

Why not fill a free half an hour gazing at some photographs of beautiful people by the fashion world’s best loved photographers?