Mario Testino

[cliveh]

Is Mario Testino the best fashion photographer of all time? Just look at the tonality of this shot. Most of his work has been on film, but this latest picture could be the result of digital manipulation. However, disregarding this, just look at the composition.

http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/kat...e-first-time-in-new-burberry-campaign#image=2

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Ugh. I'm a big fan of Norm Parkinson or Hiro.

 

[snapguy]

never

Well, I never heard of him.

 

[gzinsel]

I dont know, I do not follow fashion photag.s. Im one of those weird people, who believes photographing other people is exploitive. Particulary girls as sex objects, and poor people.

 

[cowanw]

I would vote for Horst, George Hoyningen-Huene or especially Erwin Blumenfeld

 

[Nuff]

I wouldn't call him the best one, but he's definitely one of the top fashion photographers.
I also think that photo isn't nowhere near his best, and I don't like the tones that much. It does look digital to me.
IMHO I think he has much better work than this photo.

 

[lecarp]

Paolo Roversi, His 8x10 Polaroid work.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Maybe not the best, but I do like some of his work.

Jeff

 

[Eric Rose]

Looks like frame grabs from HD video. I agree though, great composition.

 

[darkosaric]

Best fashion photographer of all time is Lillian Bassman.

 

[Trask]

Darko,

Your response was so categoric I had to take a look -- Ms. Bassman certainly made some interesting images. I can't say that they necessarily showed the fashion to greatest effect, but the overall "look" is intriguing and suggestive. I read that she threw out nearly all her negatives and prints in 1970's -- sort of the anti-Vivian Maier.

As for Testino -- doesn't everyone feel they've seen all this before? Vaguely bored beautiful women lounging around under highly controlled studio lighting. Yawn. I give greater respect to people to pioneered modes of photograph, and this doesn't look pioneering at all. How long before there's a "Testino" plug-in for Lightroom?

 

[darkosaric]

Darko,

Your response was so categoric I had to take a look -- Ms. Bassman certainly made some interesting images. I can't say that they necessarily showed the fashion to greatest effect, but the overall "look" is intriguing and suggestive. I read that she threw out nearly all her negatives and prints in 1970's -- sort of the anti-Vivian Maier.

She is more important than people realize. I am just waiting for someone to mention big Richard Avedon - but he became who he was thanks to Lillian Bassman. Her pictures are showing delicate beauty, femininity and elegance of women that is still unsurpassed by anybody (IMHO of course).

 

[benjiboy]

"Comparisons are odious". There are and have been many wonderful fashion photographers, I don't rate Testino to be one of them.

 

[cliveh]

"Comparisons are odious". There are and have been many wonderful fashion photographers, I don't rate Testino to be one of them.

How much of his work have you seen?

 

[Eric Rose]

Opinions are like buttholes, everyone has one and they all stink. If someone thinks Mario is wonderful, hey I'm cool with that, even if I don't agree. It's just someones opinion and does nothing to invalidate any opinions I might have. If you think your flavour of the month is the greatest fashion photographer of all time, great, all the power to you. I thank you for expressing your opinion and maybe tuning me into someone I have never heard of. But slighting someone else's favourite is just petty. It's not like anyone is paying us for our well researched and studious opinions here at APUG. Some people just need to be a little more accepting of divergent opinions and try harder to encourage intelligent discourse. And yes this opinion stinks too No one light a match!!

 

[Hatchetman]

I hate all fashion photography.

 

[benjiboy]

How much of his work have you seen?

Enough to know that he's a workmanlike, competent and well regarded fashion photographer who was almost unknown before he photographed Princess Diana, he's certainly not "the greatest fashion photographer of all time" not compared with Avedon, Bassman, Parkinson Beaton and Bailey I.M.O. who are some of the best of all time.

 

[jvo]

okay the tone is interesting ... the comments on the pictures, more so... anyone notice the coats?

jvo

 

[benjiboy]

okay the tone is interesting ... the comments on the pictures, more so... anyone notice the coats?

jvo

Very true, people loose sight of the fact fashion photography is about the clothing.

 

[cliveh]

I think it shows the coats off very well.

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
" Whatever happened to Francesco Scavullo ? "

.

 

[Lench]

Paolo Roversi, His 8x10 Polaroid work.

+1 love his stuff, just wish I could see some more BTS videos to see him work