Terry O'Neill was asked to shoot photos for the promotion of Bowies new album Diamond Dogs (1974). As Terry remembers Bowie walked into the studio with this giant, beautiful dog. He sat in a chair, all stretched out, with the dog standing next to him. But every time the camera lights would flash, the dog would start barking. Then, after the flash, it started to jump at the light!This singular image, with David Bowie just sitting there, completely unaffected by this large, imposing, soaring dog, has become one of the most iconic rock-and-roll images of all time.
Terry O'Neill came to prominence in the 1960s with the new generation of photographers including David Bailey and Brian Duffy who rejected the static formality of the posed photographs of the 1950s and went instead for spontaneity and unusual settings. Terry O'Neill worked with David Bowie a number of times creating some of the most striking images of him.
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry and is often considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His first hit was the song "Space Oddity" in 1969. Known as the original pop chameleon for his ever changing appearance and sound, Bowie became a fantastical sci-fi character for his breakout Ziggy Stardust album. Later he co-wrote "Fame" with Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, which became his first American No. 1 single in 1975. An accomplished actor, Bowie starred in The Man Who Fell to Earth in 1976. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Shortly after releasing his final album, Bowie died from cancer on January 10, 2016.
Terry O’Neill is one of the world’s most collected photographers with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections worldwide. From presidents to pop stars he has photographed the frontline of fame for over six decades.
O’Neill began his career at the birth of the 1960s. While other photographers concentrated on earthquakes, wars and politics, O’Neill realized that youth culture was a breaking news story on a global scale and began chronicling the emerging faces of film, fashion and music who would go on to define the Swinging Sixties. By 1965 he was being commissioned by the biggest magazines and newspapers in the world.
No other living photographer has embraced the span of fame, capturing the icons of our age from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, from Frank Sinatra and Elvis to Amy Winehouse, from Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot to Nicole Kidman, as well as every James Bond from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig and many other of your favorite celerities, models and famous political figures, royalty and fashion iconic names in fashion.
He photographed The Beatles and The Rolling Stones when they were still struggling young bands in 1963, pioneered backstage reportage photography with David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry and many more. His images have adorned historic rock albums, movie posters and international magazine covers.
All Fine Art Photographs are limited edition, signed and numbered.
