Bailey’s Stardust Exhibition

David Bailey has made an outstanding contribution to photography and the visual arts, creating consistently imaginative and thought-provoking portraits. As well as new work, this landmark exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 6th February – 1st June 2014, includes a wide variety of Bailey’s photographs from a career that has spanned more than half a century.

Bailey’s Stardust is presented thematically across a series of contrasting rooms and illustrates the extraordinary range of subjects that Bailey has captured: actors, writers, musicians, filmmakers, designers, models, artists and people encountered on his travels; many of them famous, some anonymous, all of them unforgettable.

Rooms are devoted to Bailey’s time in East Africa, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Delhi and the Naga Hills, as well as icons from the worlds of fashion and the arts, striking portraits of the Rolling Stones and Catherine Bailey and people of the East End of London.

Featuring over 250 images, personally selected and printed by Bailey, the exhibition offers an unmissable opportunity to experience the work of one of the world’s greatest image-makers.

Here at LAW Creative clients sometimes ask us if the agency has its own in house photographers. The thing is that so many different photographic styles exist that it is difficult for any one photographer to claim to be an expert in every field. Although the basics may apply, I would argue that a photographer who creates imaginative and thought provoking portraits might not be the ideal choice to shoot sausage and mash on a food shoot for a restaurant. So as an agency it is important for us to create our ideas, understand the required end result and choose our photographers accordingly (and carefully).

Often when creating an advertising campaign we’ll choose to shoot in an editorial way. A strong editorial shot will evoke a feeling in the viewer that does not require too much explanation. Editorial tells a story and communicates an idea or a concept. But there are many styles of photography such as; lifestyle, surreal, abstract, environmental, glamour, candid (maybe some of David Bailey’s work would fit easily into this category) traditional and fashion. So at LAW Creative we will choose appropriate photographers who specialise in whichever area we need. These photographers will be friends selected from a tried and tested roster, but they will not work directly for the agency.

If you are seeking to add a touch of stardust to your own portrait photography you can catch the Bailey’s Stardust exhibition until the 1st June 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery.

Or if you are seeking to work with our innovative team of art directors at LAW Creative contact executive creative director keith.sammels@lawcreative.co.uk