PETER LINDBERG – BEAUTY PROMOTIONAL WITHOUT RETOUSH
The legendary photographer of the fashion industry was born on November 23, 1944 in the Polish city of Leszno. Soon after the birth of the child, the family moved to western Germany. Peter’s childhood passed in Duisburg. This port city left a big mark in the soul of the photographer. Lindbergh grew up, observing a certain harmony and coexistence of industrial areas and unspoiled natural landscapes. Later this will be reflected in his work.
Peter is interested in painting, he attends an art school, and after that, enters the Krefeld Institute of Arts. He manages to participate in art exhibitions with his artwork. Gradually, the young man’s interest switches to photography, and in 1971 Lindbergh got his first camera. He starts off as an assistant photographer Hans Lux. After 2 years, he moved to Dusseldorf and received the status of an independent photographer.
The first significant step in the career that brought fame was the photo shoot for 7 turns of Stern Magazin. In 1978, Peter decides to move to the fashion capital. After this, Lindbergh’s work becomes very popular, he is invited to collaborate with reputable fashion magazines.
In Paris, Peter works with the best publications in the fashion industry. He shoots for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Rolling Stone, W, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, The New-Yorker. His contribution to the development of fashion photography is hard to overestimate. The most famous top models and actresses visited the master’s lens. Isabella Rossellini, Nastasya Kinsky, Mila Jovovich, Stephanie Seymour, Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Natalia Vodianova, Penelope Cruz, Madonna, Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Tilda Swinton and many others have worked with the maestro more than once.
In 1988, Lindbergh creates an amazing photo for the Comme des Garzons campain. It depicts three models resembling robots, against the backdrop of a huge steam engine. The conceptuality of this image emphasizes the changes taking place in all areas of society. In the same year in New York, Peter received an international award for excellence in fashion photography. A couple of years later, at the fashion photography festival, he was awarded the Grand Prix and the Gold Medal.
Lindbergh is a revolutionary among fashion photographers. A distinctive feature of his work is naturalness. He was one of those who introduced “imperfectness” into fashion. Peter practically did not use retouching, and makeup on models was almost forbidden. Without masterful outfits and hairstyles, the master also did fine. His models could only be in white men’s shirts and panties, but the frames turned out to be cult.
He forbade editors to retouch their work. Red nose, freckles, wrinkles – all this is an important part that gives liveliness to shooting. All these features are uncharacteristic for a fashion photographer, but Peter Lindberg was just that. He managed to convey much more than the outside of the model. The master penetrated the soul, both of the model and the viewer.
It is believed that Peter personally had a hand in creating the phenomenon of “supermodel.” In 1990, the legendary photo of Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatiana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford graced the cover of English Vogue. From this moment the era of supermodels began, with huge fees and wildly popular.
In 1992, Lindbergh signed a five-year contract with Harper’s Bazaar, which is a unique case in the fashion industry. In the same year, his first documentary, Models, was released. In it, supermodels of the 90s openly talk about their experiences, walk around the city, fool around, have fun. Peter sincerely loves his heroines, presents the audience with their sweet and natural. Girls reciprocate the photographer, fully trusting and fulfilling any of his wishes.
In 1995, and then in 1997, Peter was awarded the title of best fashion photographer in Paris. In 1996, he was awarded the Raymond Lowy Design Award. He also became an honorary member of the German Art Directors Club. In 1995, the photographer was first invited to work on the legendary Pirelli calendar. Today, Lindberg is considered the absolute record holder, because the photos he made adorned 4 calendars: 1996, 2002, 2014 and 2017.
Significantly more than half of all the shots that Lindbergh made are monochrome. According to him, it is black-and-white shooting that adds naturalness to frames and removes excessive “advertising”. Peter has always been a great connoisseur of female beauty, and in his understanding, beauty is not limited to youth and perfection. He saw beauty in diversity, not relying on any imposed standards. Peter Lindberg is considered the guru of monochrome photography.
Lindberg’s first photobook also came out in 1996. It is called Ten women by Peter Lindbergh and contains 10 black and white portfolios of supermodels: Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Amber Valletta.
