Nick Knight does Instagram: Famed fashion photographer goes back to basics as he uses smartphone for new project
- Nick Knight has photographed models, pop stars and nature for 30 years
- Using just smartphone and Instagram for real-time exhibition on Twitter
- Captures London scenes to inspire others to realise potential of their city
He may be one of the biggest names in fashion photography but Nick Knight is taking an altogether more civilian approach to taking pictures for a new exhibition.
Armed with a smartphone and a filter app the legendary photographer - who has shot campaigns for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Jil Sander and Calvin Klein during his stellar 30-year career - has gone back to basics to take a series of candid shots of London town.
Leaving the studio and taking to the streets of the capital, Nick set out to capture photos of the hidden inspiration he sees in the places he passes every day.
Wild Flowers: 'They attract a myriad of butterflies and brighten my day whenever I pass'
The project is in collaboration with American Express to create #MySecretCity, Nick's first one-day real-time photography exhibition hosted live from London on Twitter, shared via @AmexUK.
The exhibition uncovers hidden beauty in unexpected places - including city gardens and urban habitats, brutalist architecture and metropolitan playgrounds to help people realise the full potential of London.
Nick Knight says of his picture of Wild Flowers: 'Over the last few years our local Council has cultivated areas of wild flowers which look so joyous and delicate, plus they attract a myriad of butterflies and brighten my day whenever I pass.'
Of his shot of Chiswick House, he comments: 'Designed by William Kent and completed in 1729, the building introduces Palladian style architecture and the concept of the English Landscape Garden style of natural gardening that revolutionised the laying out of gardens and estates.
'So here at Chiswick House, heritage is perfectly matched with a delightful place for family weekend walks in the garden.'
Chiswick House: 'Heritage is perfectly matched with a delightful place for family weekend walks in the garden'
'There's a telescope at the highest point in Richmond Park on King Henry's Mound, a Neolithic barrow, from which there is a protected view of St. Paul's Cathedral. A real fairy-tale view of London,' says Nick of his Telescopic View of St. Paul's picture.
Meanwhile, his train tracks at Old Oak Common Lane picture means more to him than meets the eye.
'I drive past this on my way to the photographic studio. It is one of the hills in London that people seldom recognise but from the top the view out towards London across all the train tracks is a beautiful, still evocation of the industry of our city. These lines of communication give me a real-world visual of how I imagine the Internet.'
Nick says of the project: 'I am really excited to be involved in the first real-time exhibition of its kind, set in the city that gives me so much inspiration for my work. I have always been interested in the analogy of the city being like a musical symphony, moving at different tempos.
'The stillness and solitude of hidden gardens and green spaces contrasted with the architecture we live and work in gives you a different perspective on London. We get so stuck in our familiar ways around the city that we miss the sheer beauty and inspiration all around us, which is why I'm working with American Express to celebrate this wonderful city and help people see its hidden beauty.'
Old Oak Common Lane: 'These lines of communication give me a real world visual of how I imagine the Internet'
Telescopic View of St. Paul's: 'From a telescope at the highest point in Richmond Park on King Henry's Mound'
The exhibition comes as a study by American Express suggests that Britons are stuck on ‘urban autopilot' when it comes to exploring their day to day surroundings, failing to take advantage of everything that's on offer.
The research revealed that when out and about in their nearest city, seven out of ten Britons are looking down, distracted by smart phones and tablets. Just one in five take the time to look at their surroundings.
An American Express spokesperson says: 'The cities we live in are brimming with potential, although we may only appreciate a fraction of what they have to offer. As a fashion photographer, Nick has consistently challenged conventional notions of beauty. We've challenged him to re-imagine his commute to work and take a look at other sides to London, in the hope that they inspire others to realise the potential of their city.'
Nick Knight taking a photo on his smartphone before using Instagram for the new exhibition
He has photographed every major celebrity and fashion star on the planet, befriended icons such as Kate Moss, Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen, and even directed ground-breaking music videos for Bjork, Lady Gaga and Kanye West.
But ever-modest Nick Knight, who started his career in 1979 and shot his first Vogue cover in 1994, claims working with supermodels and popstars is no different than taking pictures of any other subject.
‘It’s not about the person, but about the relationship,’ he tells MailOnline.
Born to photograph: A shot from Lady Gaga's famous Born This Way video, directed by photographer and artist Nick Knight in 2010
Collaboration: Nick Knight directed Lady Gaga's Born This Way video, pictured here. 'She is an incredible artist and great to work with because she wants to push all the boundaries,' he says
Art pop: Lady Gaga's Born This Way album cover, shot by Knight. 'She doesn't want to do anything safe or that's been done before, which is really exciting for me,' he says
'It's just the same as taking a picture of you or anyone on the street. Everyone has story to tell.
'Supermodels are just normal, real people. One shouldn't think that they are any different. No one is better.'
One of Nick Knight's most notable works was of Kate Moss on the cover of Vogue in May 2003.
Icon: Nick Knight is one of the world's most famous fashion photographers
The cover recreated that of David Bowie's Aladdin Sane album sleeve, complete with a red, orange and blue zig zag across Kate's face.
'Kate's a huge Bowie fan so was the perfect choice for that cover,' says Knight. 'We also manged to get his real clothes from the 1970s.
'It was quite incredible to see the twist that she put on it. She's very lovely and very hardworking.'
British Knight has won awards for his editorial work for Vogue, Dazed & Confused, i-D, The Face, W Magazine and Another Magazine, as well as for fashion and advertising projects such as the 2004 edition of the Pirelli Calendar.
He has shot album covers for Björk, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Boy George, David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, The Style Council, Paul Weller, Gwen Stefani, Cheryl Cole and Kanye West.
He directed Lady Gaga's 2010 Born This Way artwork and video, arguably her most popular and talked-about of all.
'It was an interesting and long shoot that happened in New York across one extremely cold weekend,' says Knight.
'I think it was about minus 20 degrees. There's a scene right at the end when she rides off on a unicorn - of course! - and you see smoke. That wasn't a smoke machine that was just cold air!
Strike a pose: Kate Moss stands next to an artwork by Knight in 2004, which was auctioned at Christie's. The picture was used on the cover of Vogue in May 2003
Beautiful: Nick Knight's campaign shot for designer Jil Sander. Knight is one of the most in-demand and celebrated fashion photographers in the world
Stunning: A Jil Sander fashion campaign shot by the legendary Nick Knight. 'I only work with a few close people because I like to have unique relationships,' says Knight
'Gaga is an incredible artist and great to work with because she wants to push all the boundaries.
'She doesn't want to do anything safe or that's been done before, which is really exciting for me.
The video took six weeks to edit during which time Knight says he barely left his New York hotel: 'I went into the hotel in January, when there was still snow on the ground, and left in March when blossoms were on the trees. An odd moment.'
Fashion star: Kate Moss' latest Topshop collection, SS/14, was shot by Nick Knight
Karlie Kloss appears on the cover of British Vogue, September 2012, left, shot by Nick Knight. Knight also photographed Kate Moss' latest Topshop collection, right
Knight's work has been critically lauded and even caught the eye of certain young designers on the cusp of their own fame.
'Alexander McQueen used to write to me just as he was leaving college asking to work with me,' says Knight.
'John Galliano, too. That's how professional relationships formed. They admired my work, I admired theirs. Relationships have to happen naturally.
'I only work with a few people as I only like working with people I have a close bond with.'
Though he's largely famous for his fashion photography, Knight insists that he has just as much of a passion for nature and architecture, which led to his current collaboration with American Express.
Dramatic: Another gorgeous shot the designer Jil Sander by Knight, who started his career in 1979 and shot his first Vogue cover in 1994
Breathtaking: As well as Jil Sander, Knight has shot campaigns since for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein amongst many more
Knight started the trail from his own house in Richmond, West London and follow all the places he admires and that inspire him in the city.
'It's the idea of showing London how I see it,' Knight explains.
'There's a beautiful wild flower meadow just outside Richmond which I love.
'Victims of the plague were buried outside way back when, but now it's a sea of buttercups and flowers. I love that it's got that contrast, that history.
'I like the idea of introducing people to a different side of London they may now know. We go about our lives and get into a routine, but familiarity breeds a certain amount of nonchalance.
'We've picked a few more than eight just in case I turn up and there's a lorry outside the spot!'
Whilst some stalwart artists have been critical of the new, digital age, Knight says that he embraces social media - though Instagram rather than Twitter.
'I'm about images not words!' he says.
'But I look to the future, not the past and am much more excited about what I'm about to do, not what's happening.
'Most of the photos I take are on my phone because the quality is so good and it means anyone can take a photograph, which I think is great.
'We want people to express themselves.'
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