Literally. Last night I found myself at Brett Ratner’s party with my friend Kristin. We walked in to the house and she ran over, "Patrick, Patrick how are you?" There was Patrick Demarchelier hanging out by himself. A quiet humble Frenchman who is a photographic icon amongst Annie Leibowitz, Mario Testino, Peter Lindbergh, Ellen Von Unwerth, etc. I found myself a bit tongue-tied and I had no idea what to say. I ended up being able to get the words "What are you doing in town this week?" and he replied nonchalantly with a distinguished french accent "Oh, I’m just in town for a day shooting the Vogue cover." A moment later, he came and sat down by us, and showed us(along with supermodel Tori Praver, whom I’d love to shoot one day) one of his fine art books. His work is beautiful, and iconic. He’s among the greats, and if you don’t know who he is check his work out. (His website is terrible, but he’s in that echelon where he doesn’t need one. They know who he is.) It’s between him, Mario Testino, and Steven Meisel who shoot every high fashion campaign.
Here’s a few links to his work(I’m sure you’ll recognize a lot of it):
http://www.demarchelier.com
http://www.demarchelier.net/advertising.html
http://www.younggalleryphoto.com/photography/demarchelier/demarchelier.html
We then sat there amused as we watched Brett’s assistant chase Cuba Gooding Jr. back and forth through the livingroom. He was throwing a fit about something. People watching at parties is probably the most fun thing to do.
All that said, It was amazing to meet a photographer who’s work has made a huge impact on the photography industry.
gasp! man – that’s crazy! that cover of Janet is one of my ALL TIME favourite shots…for the photography of course! (okay…and silently wishing that I could rock a bod like that on a cover!!!)
man, you roll with the sweet scene.
oh snap son.