FEATURE:
Snapshots
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1979 wearing Chinese-Dutch fashion designer Fong Leng/PHOTO CREDIT: Claude Vanheye
Focusing on the Wide Range of Photographers Who Captured Kate Bush
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IN previous features…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush during the filming of 1993’s The Line, the Cross and the Curve/PHOTO CREDIT: Gudio Harari
I have talked about photographers who have shot Kate Bush. For the most part, I have focused on a select few. Her brother John Carder Bush has photographed her since she was a child. He took photos for most of her albums. The covers including The Dreaming (1982), Hounds of Love (1985) and The Sensual World (1989). Some terrific shots. Guido Harari responsible for some of her best photos of the 1980s and 1990s. My personal favourites are the ones he took on the set of The Line, the Cross and the Curve in 1993. I also love Gered Mankowitz and the photos he took in 1978 and 1979. Capturing Kate Bush at the start of her career. These three are perhaps the best-known photographers. However, there are so many that deserves to be celebrated and discussed. I am compelled to think about this as a recent Kate Bush Fan Podcast episode was an interview with Govert de Roos. We look at photos of Kate Bush and take them for granted. Maybe not discussing the photographers. However, this new podcast episode allows us to hear reflections from a wonderful Dutch photographer who shot Kate Bush early in her career:
“For this new episode of The Kate Bush Fan Podcast, Seán introduces an exclusive interview between our own Darrell Babidge and the Dutch photographer, Govert de Roos. Govert was Kate’s European photographer. Many of the photos that were taken of Kate in 1978 and were posted on many a bedroom wall were taken by Govert. In this interview we get a glimpse into his work with Kate Bush, as well as the rock and pop stars of the 70’s and 80’s. We also find out more about his work during the Efteling Special in Amsterdam and taking photos of Kate’s Tour of Life concert there. Other artists he worked with include Grace Jones, Queen, ABBA, Debbie Harry, Tina Turner, Prince and many more”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1982/PHOTO CREDIT: Anton Corbijn
A lot of these photographers did not have as long and wide a collaboration with Kate Bush as the likes of Guido Harari. I like the fact that Anton Corbijn photographed Kate Bush. Another Dutch master. He shot her in 1982. There are the iconic shots from 1981 by Clive Arrowsmith. He took two shots. One of her decked in Ivy and another with this dark blue background. They are terrific shots. I also have a lot of respect for Claude Vanheye (“Vanheye was famous for the open, informal atmosphere in his studios. There was great music and lots of food. His 1979 photo session with Kate Bush was scheduled for 30 minutes, but she sent away her entourage and stayed for six hours, with props like a fake dolphin and dresses by Fong Leng. His photographs of Kate Bush were used on the Japanese 7″ single for Symphony In Blue and in the unofficial box set Never Forever”). There are websites that document the great and rare photos of Kate Bush. A lot fo the ones highlighted in various features are press photos. You never really know about the person who took them. Each has their own experiences of the fleeting moment with Kate Bush. I have said it many times before. How it would be great to have some greater discussion around the photographers associated with Kate Bush. Memories of this amazing artist and what it was like shooting Bush. We do need to speak more about all the great photographers and their own style. In most cases, Kate Bush being this very willing subject who would give her all. Among my favourite shots are the ones the late Brian Griffin took in 1983. In another feature, I mooted the idea of a Kate Bush exhibition. One where we get a range of photographs from throughout the year. One of the main reasons is to give a name to some of the photographers who took these iconic shots. I wonder whether people reading this will have their own favourite photographers. Not the major ones like Gered Mankowitz. Those who shots are not as used and discussed. The media often select a narrow few when publishing stuff about Kate Bush. There is this archive that is relatively untapped.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1978/PHOTO CREDIT: Govert de Roos
That Kate Bush Fan Podcast episode with Govert de Roos opened my mind. I had forgotten about his shots of Kate Bush. One where she performed during The Tour of Life in 1979. It made me think about wider about the wider discussion. This chronology that has many colours and shades. A lot of these lesser-discussed photographers worked with Kate Bush in the 1980s and '90s. Not that many with bush in the twenty-first century. However, Trevor Leighton’s work with Kate Bush around the release in Aerial (2005) catch my eye. I have used his photos quite a lot. I am not sure whether it would be practical to have all of these less-heralded photographers get together. Or a book with their work. I would be fascinated in a chronological book that charts her different looks and the people who took those shots. I think all of the photographers were male. I am not sure whether Kate Bush ever worked with any female photographers. Hearing the likes of Guido Harari discussing his working relationship with Kate Bush is wonderful. In fact, nearly every photographer who has worked with her has fond recollections. Even though I have talked multiple times about Kate Bush photography and the people she worked with, I have never really thought about how many photos of her were taken through the years. So many press shots. Loads of collaboration. Whether snapshots of a wider photo album, these photographers deserve credit where it is due. They each brought something different from Kate Bush. We are not done talking about that side of things. With new music coming in the future, will it be a case of a few promotional shots and nothing more? Hearing what Govert de Roos had to say about Kate Bush. Brian Griffin besotted with her it seems. Anton Corbijn wowed by her. Claude Vanheye talking some of the standout shots. All vastly interesting and vivid. Photographing Kate Bush must have been…
A life-changing experience.