The last time Sam stood behind a camera (in a professional capacity) was December 2006 in Sydney for Harper’s Bazaar Australia’s Spring 2007 10th anniversary issue. It was less than a month after his 80th’s birthday. After this he launched into the ‘Fashion Etcetera’ project which launched in 2009.
Apart from anything else this shoot was also a master class in lighting. Fortunately there was a young Australian assistant there who realised what he was witnessing. Christopher Ireland mentioned the shoot on his Facebook wall last week.
I had worked at the time with numerous international fashion photographers. Sam was by far the best – I was transfixed by his talent. It was a life changing moment and I often cite this moment when people ask me where I get my enthusiasm and passion.
Christopher Ireland *Sam was 80 not 82 on that shoot and it was 4 years ago.
Of course Sam was unhappy with the results. But the work speaks for itself. It was also the one and only time he worked with a digital camera on a professional shoot and he loved it.
[Ludwig]