Brian Duffy (British, B.1933 - D.2010): David Bowie Aladdin Sane Contact Sheet,

1973,

Footnotes

"Who could have imagined that the moment he clicked the shutter on the Hasselblad in early 1973 that one of those images would become known as a cultural icon?" – Chris Duffy

Duffy first came into prominence during the swinging sixties together with fellow fashion photographers David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Norman Parkinson. His training as a fashion designer prior to turnign to photography meant he had a meticulous eye for detail and design, and it was his love for photography that he was able to express this creativity. As such, it led to him creating some of the most iconic images of British Pop Culture...

In 1972 he was asked to work on his first shoot with David Bowie in his 'Ziggy Stardust' persona. Bowie and Duffy struck up an instant rapport and led to a collaboration which lasted eight years. This lengthy collaboration allowed Duffy to capture Bowie's changing personas over the years, as well as help shape them too. Duffy actually carved the iconic red and blue "Flash" across David's face in lipstick, before the outline was then filled in by makeup artist Pierre Laroche. Consequently, some of the most famous photographs date from their second shoot together which included the iconic and revolutionary cover of David Bowie's album Aladdin Sane - a shot that became the defining look of Bowie's long career, and has been referred to as the 'Mona Lisa of Pop'.

This contact sheet was taken during the same session that Duffy shot with Bowie in 1973 arranged around the iconic Aladdin Sane album cover image, and reveals David's permanently dilated left eye. It includes the defining image of Duffy and Bowie's creative relationship which has become synonymous with the legacy of both artists.