Mario Testino is a contemporary, celebrity photographer from London to Hollywood. He has been well known for turning a normal face into a legend and a celebrity icon. I first came across Testino's work at the National Portrait Gallery where I saw many of his most famous portraits and decided to study him further.
I think it is easy to say that, just because Testino photographs all the most famous celebrities, he is an amazing photographer. But, if you really explore his photographs, there is a natural talent in him. You can see that he has an eye for beauty. I don't quite know how to explain it, but he somehow makes a photo more than a photo. As in when you see a painting that looks very much like a photograph, you are amazed by how good and accurate it is, on the same kind of level as Testino's work looks like it should be on a higher level than a photograph. He has style, and the ability to make everybody he photographs look so perfect.
I have always been a huge fan of Kate Moss. I think she is stunning, and what I love is the range and individual quality of looks and personality that she possesses. From his photography and relationship with Kate Moss, which he has had since she was seventeen, he has shown and proved the variety of poses and looks that she has. The photo at the top of this post is one of my favourite photos of all time. It was for Harper's Bazaar taken in 1996, Los Angeles. I love the amount of things going on in the background of the photo while the calmness of the beautiful Kate Moss at the centre of the photo. Testino stated, 'I work around her beauty and for different pictures concentrate on different aspects of her personality, but in the end they are all Kate, she has so much imagination and such innate taste that there is always something new to discover.'
'His sense of fashion, which has made him one of the most sought-after contemporary photographers, has transformed many of his portraits into icons. A Testino portrait is unmistakeable.'
Take a look at some of Michel Comte's work on celebrities, he worked with the likes of Cindy Crawford to Roger Federer; and had a technique of involving himself in their lifestyles before taking their photo's. During one film festival he invested 50,000 Euros to allow himself to get closer to the stars instead of a 'behind the rails'. He has a new book out called Thiry Years and five minutes, I think.
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