Photography | Brian Griffin (Depeche Mode, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol) | STUDIO INTERVIEW

DOGMA85 in conversation with legendary photographer Brian Griffin for the original series "Studio Interviews".
Discover Brian's work on: www.briangriffin.co.uk
After college, Griffin moved to London to work as a fashion photographer. At the recommendation of Lester Bookbinder he instead took a job as a corporate photographer for the London-based business magazine Management Today, and later other publications, including Accountancy Age, Computing, and Marketing. His 1974 photograph "Rush Hour, London Bridge" brought him national recognition; a print is now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the 1980s, Griffin had become known as a corporate photography expert. His first solo show was in London in 1981.
Around this same time, Griffin began working in the music industry, landing his first music gigs with Stiff Records. His work shooting businessmen translated well to many of the groups of the time who also dressed in suits and ties, such as The Jam and Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Over the next few years, he photographed such as acts as Depeche Mode, R.E.M., Iggy Pop, Ringo Starr, and Peter Gabriel. His work appeared on many album covers of the era, notably that of Depeche Mode's A Broken Frame, often cited as one of the best color photographs ever shot. The photograph also appears on the cover of Life's 1990 edition of "World's Best Photographs 1980-1990". His work appeared in publications such as Esquire (US), Rolling Stone, Radio Times, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, The Observer, and Car.
Griffin, whose father died from lung cancer related to his factory job, drew upon the backgrounds of his photographic subjects, many of whom were workers and tradesman. This led to his developing a photographic style that has since been referred to as capitalist realism. Although the term has been used to describe other forms of art, he is credited with being the first to develop the style in photography Griffin himself is unsure of who came up with the term. His work has been described as being influenced by Renaissance masters, Symbolism, and Surrealism, with "film noir" lighting, and he cites David Lynch as an influence.
In 1989, The Guardian named Griffin "photographer of the decade". In the same year he left still photography behind to focus on TV commercials, music videos, and films. For many years, he owned a production company, where he worked as a commercial director.
00:00 Intro
00:30 Early Life
1:23 First experiences with photography
2:10 Photography, ambition, and independence
2:40 How to get the right photograph
3:28 Surrealism and cinema influences
5:22 How environment can shape your style
6:13 Working in the music industry
7:07 Corporate photography
7:55 The '80s, success, albums covers
9:31 Challenges of being a photographer
10:52 Photography for art, not for money
11:15 Photography style
13:58 Follow your instinct
15:02 Doing anything for the right photo
15:22 How mistakes can shape your style
15:44 Siouxsie and Depeche Mode
17:58 Wang Chung, Brian May and George Melly
19:42 Colour Photography and Black & White Photography
Cinematography by www.chiasmo.net
#photography #documentary #interview

[@pomstar69]

RIP!! You were a great influence on my work as an analog photographer! xo

[@Gagon32]

Could listen to this guy for hours. Big fan of his projects & he is very inspirational!

[@Threlly]

For years I thought the cover of A Broken Frame was a painting, so for me, he really nailed it.

[@godwindracing6056]

Feel sad to hear about BG's passing - had 2 great talks of him when i was transitioning from college to uni in the summer of 2012. The former was the best, watching him roast every 1980s kids' music heroes about his past in the music industry, stunned to realise that he shot the cover of those albums too. RIP

[@thesecretlifeofhuman]

Unfortunate he ‘fooled the politician with the pipe’, making him look like a clown just to get the photograph. That was Tony Benn, a rare anomaly - a true politician and a genuine gentleman, in politics to actually help people and not self serving at all. Otherwise I’ve been a fan of Brian Griffin’s work. RIP Brian.