THE MAN WHO SHOT THE SIXTIES from CHRIS DUFFY on Vimeo.
Duffy together with David Bailey and Terence Donovan is recognized as one of the innovators of “documentary” fashion photography, a style which revolutionized fashion imagery and furthermore the fashion industry. So influential were their images that in 1962 the Sunday Times dubbed Duffy, Bailey & Donovan the “Terrible Trio” and Norman Parkinson further added to their notoriety by naming them “The Black Trinity”. Together they dominated the London photographic scene, constantly pushing each other to new heights. Even socially they would spend many hours together talking, living and breathing photography.
Last week Andrew Hetherington posted this video about the photographer Brian Duffy, whom I was unfamiliar with. One day Brian decided to burn his negatives and give up photography. The video is amazing, the photography is amazing, and the following quote from Mr. Duffy struck a chord.
“I always think of a photograph, if you look at it, you realize that in front of it, in time, there was something not very interesting. The photograph is absolutely interesting, then a fraction after it’s not interesting. There’s a moment where you think what was happening at that very moment? If a photograph doesn’t have that in it.” (shrugs shoulders)