MOVIES

DICK VAN DYKE

‘HE SEES BEAUTY IN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.’

The first time I shot with Andy was nearly 20 years ago. He rocked up on his own, just him and I, and we ended up chatting – and giggling – our way through a photoshoot (which is not always how they go, I should add) and throughout it all I barely realised he was taking my portrait. I genuinely felt like I was just chatting away with a friend. Mark Twain once said ‘golf is a good walk spoiled’ by the hitting of a ball. A shoot with Andy is like a fabulous chat interrupted by his camera going ‘click’ every now and again.

What’s particularly wonderful to me is that we have shot so many times together since 2001 and he still turns up today just as he did back at the beginning of all this; on his own with his camera – no assistants, no team, just him. Andy doesn’t edit his photos. There’s no Photoshopping, just pure raw images that somehow capture his subjects’ ‘essence’ – his defining brand of magic. With the pursuit of perfection in this day and age, it is refreshing to witness his attitude and mindset that not every face needs to look perfect.

One of my very fondest memories of our fun times together took place many years ago when Andy and I were chatting; I believe we had met up so I could co-sign a couple of prints. He mentioned that he was thinking of expanding the colour section of his portfolio and asked if I fancied being captured in glorious colour, rather than his usual monochromatic / film-noir style. I knew I would be heading back to New York so I suggested that we do it there and that maybe I’d have the opportunity to gather some of my New York chums together to make his trip worthwhile. Without Andy’s knowledge, I called round some of my closest friends and arranged an ‘English afternoon tea’ – well just lots of tea and biscuits really – my idea being that while they were at my place, Andy could grab them one at a time and take them into a spare room for some quick shots. With much fortune my ‘Avengers assemble!’ call was answered by everyone I invited, from Susan Sarandon and Julianne Moore to Bill Nighy and John Turturro. I believe there was a little party of ten or so tucking into Hobnobs and digestive biscuits at one point.

The tea party went perfectly, and Andy was totally in his element, taking his portraits and charming my friends with his warmth and wit. The resulting colour photographs were pretty stunning too. Raw, true and honest.

That is most definitely his gift; he sees people’s spirits and delivers exquisite real and natural portraits. He sees beauty in everything and everyone, and frankly working with him is a pleasure. I have enormous respect for the incredible journey that he has been on and continues to trail through with grace, dignity, strength and a wicked laugh.