Australian photographer Russell James shares his favourite images and why they changed his life
Internationally acclaimed Aussie photographer Russell James has shot some of the most stunning women alive. But it’s an older woman the 56-year-old legend names as the most beautiful person he has photographed. SEE THE IMAGES THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE.
THE eyes have it for legendary Aussie photographer Russell James.
He’s shot some of the most stunning women alive, including Rihanna, Elle Macpherson and Kendall Jenner.
But it’s a woman in her 70s with lines on her cheeks and brilliant blue eyes that James names as the most beautiful person he has photographed.
“She totally took my breath away,” the Victoria’s Secret official photographer said.
James — who was named the International Impact Honoree at the Australian Fashion Laureate Awards on Tuesday — took her image as part of a Portraits of Diversity project during the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth.
“I just thought she was probably the most beautiful person I’d ever photographed,” James said. “She shared her story of migrating to Australia. She had such a beautiful energy.
“People are beautiful for different reasons, they’re not just pretty or beautiful because they’re models, sometimes it’s just in the pure existence of the person.”
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But, out of all the images that have defined James’ career — from movie stars to world political figures, the 56-year-old legend shares just a select few of his all-time favourite images with Confidential and explains why they changed his life.
KENDALL JENNER
“Six years ago when Kendall had literally just started, she asked me for help on the right pathway to being a model and I said ‘you’re from a famous family, why do you want to be a model? The reason most people model is to make money but that doesn't seem to be the problem’. So I asked her if she would come with me to remote communities in the Kimberley Ranges without the cameras to help my Nomad Two Worlds foundation and speak to indigenous youth and she did. As we were coming out on one property in a little diesel helicopter we landed on a massive rock and took that shot and I felt it captured all we were trying to do.”
GISELE BÜNDCHEN
“I like it not because it’s lingerie, but it was symbolic to me. It was a time when Gisele was an amazing name in fashion but no one had heard of her in the mainstream and she just signed with Victorias Secret. They trusted me to bring her image into that brand and that was one of the first images we did. It became iconic and turned up in galleries all over the world.”
TYRA BANKS
“That was the first photo I did in the US. It’s Tyra Banks when she was just being discovered as a model and that shot became the cover of Sports Illustrated. She became the first African-American on the cover of what I would call a white institutionalised magazine. That magazine did 29 million in circulation.”
BARBRA STREISAND
“She’s a friend and that photograph, surrounded by her trophies is an image she wouldn’t do until this year. She said ‘to be blunt, if it was a male director doing this, they would be like ‘great’ but she was worried about being considered to be bragging and I said you’ve got Emmys, Oscars, Grammys, on a scale like no body ever has, put it out there.”
BELLA HADID
“When I photographed Bella, I was like ‘oh my gosh’ you’ve got the most movie-star face.
I just feel like she had to go out and be a movie star because there was something classic and beautiful about her face.”
HILLARY & BILL CLINTON
“They have had a historic impact. The fact they would share personal stories and allow me to be barefoot in their personal home amazes me.”
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