Biography fashion photographer richard avedon photos

Not only did Avedon revolutionise the way models were photographed, transforming them from static subjects to leading actresses of the set, showing their human side as well, but his striking celebrity portraits, in black and white and often in large format, were the first shots capable of revealing the innermost psychological side of the person portrayed.

For this reason, Richard Avedon is one of the undisputed masters of 20th century photography , who has taken photos that have made history and have that capacity, that only masterpieces have, to inspire in the observer the desire to create a story around that image, trying to build the plot of the events that happened before and after that shot.

These cinematic images encourage the viewer to create a narrative and construct an imaginary plot. In both cases, Avedon makes the viewer feel they are witnessing a more articulate story of leisure and pleasure, which the audience could even experience first-hand if only they had the right clothes. The interplay between figure and void, body and space, solid form and the defining power of the edge is key to the power of his images.

Richard avedon photography style

Avedon creates powerfully descriptive portraits that bring the viewer closer to the subjects portrayed. The ability to see facial details, even the smallest ones, places the observer at a distance usually reserved for spouses, lovers, parents or children. When it comes to portraits, Avedon is known for his particular style, developed from onwards.

Among the salient features of his approach was his use of a white background, which allowed him to eliminate the potential distracting elements of a given photographic set in order to emphasise the qualities of pose, gesture and expression. An example of this is the photograph of Nastassja Kinski, softly lying on the floor and embraced by a snake.

There were many supermodels with whom Avedon worked intensively and who completely changed the way fashion photography was done. Her extraordinary affinity with Dovima, for example, resulted in spectacular images, such as the iconic Dovima with elephants.