5 minute read
DICK VAN DYKE
from Icons
LILY JAMES
London 3 September 2015
120
Following pages
IAN McKELLEN AND PATRICK STEWART
Berkeley 14 August 2013
ELTON JOHN
Lyon 16 July 2014
181
Every time I see your face It reminds me of the places we used to go All I’ve got is a photograph And I realize you’re not coming back anymore
From ‘Photograph’, Ringo Starr, 1973
I have always had a love for photography. There are only five photographs of me from birth to when I turned 18 – there weren’t a lot of cameras in the family. So when we formed the band and I had the opportunity – and money – I went camera mad. That’s how it started really. Getting photos, getting in the photo-booths taking shots of myself and everything around me. My love for photography just sort of progressed from there.
I think I really got more serious about photography, more excited by and interested in it, during the Beatles era. Photography became my passion alongside playing; I enjoyed doing both. We had lots of downtime, mostly lying around in hotel rooms playing around. With my camera always at hand my playing around was taking a shot or two.
Arriving in New York for the first time in the 1960s was one of the most exciting days of my life. Even before we landed, we were so excited just to be in America. During this time lots of photographers were shooting The Beatles and I got to know many of them, like Dezo Hoffman. It seemed a good idea at the time, so I began shooting back! I wasn’t documenting for later, I was taking pictures for now. This is where I see the similarity between my photographs and the photographs of Andy Gotts – who is the Ansel Adams of faces. He manages to capture the here and now – what the faces in front of his lens actually look like – almost a historic document of their landscape. This is why I think it’s important to keep the truth in photographs, just like in the photos that he has taken of me – and I love them.
Andy’s sessions are a lot of fun. I love seeing a picture, like the ones we have shot together, and knowing that we did them in my garage. He put a few lights on me, and there you go. I love that attitude too – you’re not in the studio and it’s all ‘real’; we’re just hanging out in the garage then ‘Let’s take the photo’. It’s a really good experience. He is a fine man, and as we know, he is a great photographer. So it is my pleasure to hang out with him for his 45-minute sessions – all the time he needs to create his magic.
Peace and love.
RINGO STARR
Beverly Hills 2 February 2018
192
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I give my heartfelt thanks to all who gave their time to be photographed for ICONS.
Huge cheers to all who have contributed texts and words of wisdom: Stephen Fry, Ringo Starr, Brian May, Michael Palin, Dick Van Dyke, Vivienne Westwood, Brent Spiner, David Gandy, Kate Winslet and the late John Hurt. Also, thanks to all the elves and assistants that have helped with wrangling the texts: Jo, Scotty, Arlene, Carrie, Sarah and Anwen.
I would like to kick in the shins all the agents, managers and publicists that have dragged their feet in organising shoots and are the reason this project has taken over a decade to shoot!
A massive high-five to each and every champagne vineyard that has kept me going.
Deep thanks to family and friends that have coped with my vast mood swings: Enid, Ivor, Steven, Deborah, Isabelle; Ian and Kenneth.
HUGE thanks to all the lovely, shiny people without whose help this project would have been not as much fun: Henrik and the staff of Flemings Mayfair. Margo and Cassie for their MUA talents. Will and the HOI posse. Jay and the Maddox Gallery, especially John Russo and his team, with matchmaker Mr Gandy; Mamiya, Elinchrom and Phase One for the magnificent equipment. Additional gratitude goes to Duncan and the Unseen team who have championed my photography.
This book would not have the look and flow without the skills and dedication of all at Scala Arts and Heritage Publishers: Jane, Laura, Claire, Joe, Tim and Jenny.
Most importantly, a plethora of thanks to all the people who have believed in me and have given a bumbling photographer from north Norfolk a chance over the last three decades. In a world of accelerating change, art is one of the world’s greatest luxuries.
Since our inception in 2015, we have had the pleasure of welcoming visitors to experience the best emerging, established and blue-chip contemporary artists across our five gallery locations in London, Los Angeles and Gstaad.
Propelled by a passion for art and a desire to do things differently, we pride ourselves on creating welcoming and inspiring spaces for both collectors and artists alike; on offering a doorway to a more inspiring and impactful experience of contemporary art.
Exhibiting artworks by a range of incredible talents, we take every measure to recognise and support the work of our artists with the respect it deserves, wherever they may be in their own story.
When it comes to the artwork of globally renowned photographer, Andy Gotts, there are stories in abundance. From the tales of what happens behind the scenes at shoots, to the testimonials from the icons Andy has photographed to date, each image tells a unique and equally entertaining story. These interactions and experiences are testament to the sheer talent and likeability of this great artist, who we were delighted to welcome to the Maddox family in 2021.
