Meet pioneer photographer Mr Peter Lindbergh

Have you ever heard of a bird or man that made history by following the flock? Me neither.

Mr Peter Lindbergh (1944) is the epitome of a rebellious spirit. He single-handedly changed the face of fashion photography, pushing boundaries and setting new standards along the way. The world-renowned German pioneer received his education in the early 1960’s at the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts, where he nurtured his admiration for Vincent van Gogh. Relocating to the French village of Arles for a year, he literally walked in the Dutch painters’ footsteps. A move that reveals not just mild affection but true passion – a trait I challenge for every drop of delicate gin that I make.

After moving to Düsseldorf in 1971, Mr Lindbergh switched his focus from painting to photography. He quickly made a name for himself, joining news magazine Stern along with fellow photography rebels Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Hans Feurer. It was around this time Mr Lindbergh developed an unusual sense of individuality, revolutionizing fashion photography with his timeless, cinematic images.

In the glamorous universe of VOGUE, Vanity Fair and W, he became known for his humanist approach and the idealisation of women. It is the responsibility of photographers, he said, “to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection.” I assume that includes pink birds with bowler hats…

Mr Lindbergh launched the careers of supermodels like Mrs Naomi Campbell, Mrs Linda Evangelista and Mrs Cindy Crawford, all beaming with youthful joy on his famous January 1990 VOGUE UK cover. To this very day, he continues to be a force of nature redefining the standards of beauty in the fashion world and beyond. A rebellious spirit with an unusual character, indeed.

The exhibition ‘A Different Vision on Fashion Photography’ is on view in the Venaria Reale in Torino, Italy from 7 October 2017 to 4 February 2018.