Steven Meisel, one of the most most respected photographers in the fashion industry, has long inspired me with his beautiful photographs, often conveying a strong message. His work for Vogue Italia is particularly impressive. Remember the controversial 'Make over Madness' shoot, which featured Linda Evangalista undergo painful cosmetic procedures all for the sake of beauty? Or how about the 'State of Emergency' editorial from 2006? Taking inspiration from the strict border force laws and immigration across Europe, the shoot featured models being slammed against cars by police for security checks and having to remove their clothes at the airport. Moreover, it showed normal civilians as victims of violent security laws, causing quite a stir in the media. Controversial yes, but these realistic shoots are what makes Steven Mesiel so perfect as a social commentator through the medium of fashion photography.
Born on June 5th, 1954, Meisel loved photography from a young age, famously waiting outside Melvin Sokolsky's studio for hours to catch a glimpse of Twiggy, at 12 years old. After studying at the prestigious Parsons New School of Design, he went on to become an illustrator for a number of publications, with photography not even crossing his mind as a potential career move. It wasn't until he was asked to take some test photos for Elite Model Agency that he discovered his true passion and something he was rather good at - taking photos of people. Since then he is famed for taking some of the most iconic photos of the supermodels in the 1990's as well as his narrative driven shoots for US Vogue and Vogue Italia, where most of his photographs are featured. He also shot ad campaigns for numerous fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi and Versace - his sexy, dark glamorous photographs a favourite among the Italian brands.
Famously a very private man, Meisel has grown to be one of the most admired and in demand photographers in the fashion industry. Controversy seems to follow his work, from the 1990s Calvin Klein ad campaign which was criticised as a form of child pornography, to his 'Water and Oil' editorial which highlighted the catastrophic oil leak which killed millions of birds and sea life. For over 20 years his photographs have captivated audiences and impacted the industry immensely. I have picked out some of my favourite photographs of his below and hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
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