Bailey's mobile phone portraits
Updated on 27 August 2009
For his latest project, celebrated photographer David Bailey has been hired to shoot a series of portraits using only a mobile phone camera.
As one of the country's most celebrated photographers, David Bailey's portraits defined British cool in the 60s and, half a century later, he's still on the payroll at Vogue.
His latest collection, Alive At Night, was taken after dark, and echoes his famous shots of East End characters, such as The Krays, back in 1960s London. The difference is, all have been taken with a mobile phone.
But does a mobile phone camera do justice to one of Britain's best-known photographers?
He has used every camera available but it is clear he is pleased with the results of the phone snaps.
He said: "Really it's not the camera that takes the picture it’s the person. People intellectualise it too much really.
"I'm presently surprised of the quality and how good some of the pictures are - some of them are not so good because there's no where to go, you know - you've got a big empty hall what are you going to do? But I'm quite pleased - a couple of them could be in books.
"I think [the technology] is great - it wouldn't stop you having another camera it would be another piece of armour in your piece of artillery in your visual life I guess.
"And everyone now is going to take one great picture in their lives - but I'm going to take two. So I've got the edge."
The photographer's next exhibition will be an exhibition of sculptures with long tongues trailing out of their mouths.
