Photographer Tony McGee on shooting David Bowie

Photographer Tony McGee was first introduced to David Bowie by Mick Jagger’s wife Jerry Hall at a cocktail party hosted by producer Michael White. Days later, Bowie’s record label was asking Tony to shoot the publicity for Bowie’s Let’s Dance tour, 1983. From there, six photoshoots – including a cover shoot for The Face – and a 30 year-long friendship unfolded. This month, Mayfair gallery Imitate Modern will present the photos which were borne out of that creative collaboration, some of which have never been seen or exhibited, in David Bowie “Unseen”.

“I worked with David on six occasions,” Tony tells It’s Nice That. “Without a shadow of a doubt the first shoot I did with David was the most memorable as it was the beginning of a trust and a loyalty between photographer and subject. As you can imagine, photographing such a great musician made it difficult to know which music to play in the photo session. So I put Diana Ross and The Supremes, Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas and Bob Dylan… and more.”

“We talked about photography, film making, art – he was very curious to know who I had been working with of recently and was genuinely fascinated with the art of photography and how an image is created. We spoke about the passion of photography and how important the part passion plays in art.”

“David was magnificent to photograph and needed no direction at all, he was a complete professional, never complained and was never late nor early just bang on time.”

Tony McGee’s David Bowie “Unseen” will be at Imitate Modern, 19 Shepherd Market from 18th May – 27th May 2017.