Barry Lategan

By Louise Crux

His Noted WorkBarry Lategan is one of the countries most influential and renowned photographers in the country. One of his best known work is of early discovery and portraitrature photos of Twiggy, both of which are in exhibit in the V and A Museum. He has taken pictures of some of the most notable celebrities in the past 40 years.

His career as a fashion photographer has also seen much of his work make it to the pages and front covers of international editions of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar and he won the Halina award for the 1986 Pirelli calendar. Other plaudits include a Clio Award for a TV commercial for Armani perfume and a D&AD Award for the Millennium stamp.

Perhaps best know for being the photographer who propelled the legendary sixties supermodel, Twiggy, into the limelight, Barry has also earned recognition as a top photographer on both sides of the Atlantic.

Celebrities Include:

Paul and Linda McCartney

HRH Princess Anne

Iman Germaine Greer

Calvin Klein

Sol Campbel

l

John Major Margret Thatcher

Salman Rushdie

These are just a few of the famous faces

that have appeared in front

of his lens.

His Life

Barry Lategan was born in South Africa 1935. He later came to England in the 50’s to study theatre at the Bristol Old Vic. His studies however in theatre training were interrupted as he undertook national service in the RAF in

Germany.

While in Germany he went to visit a Photographic Club whilst on the campsite. With this visit it sparked an interest and a passion which still exists

to this day.

On returning to South Africa the enthusiasm he had for photography while in Germany was encouraged by his mother and through a recommendation

which later helped him to get a job offer with a photographer.

To this day Barry always remembers what the photographer said to him; “you’re a lucky man if you can make your hobby your work”.

In 1965 he opened his first studio in London. After he opened his studio he photographed for a hairdresser, who

introduced him to an unknown model ‘Twigs’ (Leslie Hornsby) by her boyfriend Justin De Villeneuve. Once the shoot finished he suggested that she professionally call

herself by the name ‘Twiggy’.

After the photo shoot the resulting images were published in the English newspaper ‘The Express’ which announced Twiggy the face of 1966. The iconic picture wasn’t only the most iconic picture in her career but remains to this

day the most unforgettable image around the world.

By 1977 Barry moved to New York with an impressive portfolio of work which was published worldwide in some of the most amazing fashion magazines such as: Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and other various lifestyle magazines.

In 1988 he received the Halina Award for the Pirelli Calendar for that year and the Clio Award for the Giorgio Armani advert. By 2007 he was awarded the Honorary

Fellowship by The Royal Photographic Society aka RPS.

With the diverse line up of people, along with the a diverse subjects which were photographed included Paul McCartney for his first solo album ‘Wings’ and the various exhibits throughout different museums such as the V and

A and the South African National Museum.