HERB RITTS
Herb Ritts was born in 1952 in Los Angeles. He began his career in photography by chance, after he took a picture of his friend at a gas station in 1978. The friend was Richard Gere, a little-known actor at that time. Soon afterward, when Gere was recognized for his role in Paul Schrader’s ‘American Gigolo’ (1980), Ritts sent his photographs to Gere’s advertising agent and they appeared in the pages of Vogue, Esquire, and ELLE. Ritts directed successful advertising campaigns for such brands as Calvin Klein, Chanel, Donna Karan, Gap, Gianfranco Ferré, Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Levi’s, Pirelli, Polo Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret, and Valentino. Having started his artistic career in 1988, he staged many successful award-winning commercials (including MTV Video Awards in 1991) and music videos for Madonna, Janet Jackson, Chris Isaak, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Michael Jackson. In his works, Herb Ritts focuses on clean lines and austere shapes. His photographs often overthrow the conventional concepts of gender and ethnicity. The eye-catching images of cinema and fashion stars, politicians, and public persons simultaneously create a social history and a fantastical reality. Ritts, an HIV and AIDS activist, collaborated with many charitable organizations, including amfAR, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Project Angel Food, Focus on AIDS, APLA, Best Buddies, and Special Olympics. He published a series of photographic albums as well as a book entitled ‘Work,’ the release of which coincided with his exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
“WOMAN WITH STRAW HAT, HAWAII, 1988”
In his work, Herb Ritts preferred to shoot under natural light rather than in a closed dark room. Beaches were the photographer’s favorite studios, where he often set up indoor decorations. This portrait of a young girl in a straw hat was shot in Hawaii, where Ritts liked to arrange free-form photo sessions.
“FEMALE NUDE WITH BLACK SAND, HAWAII, 1989”
Many viewers associate the special aesthetics of Ritts’s nude-style photos with ancient Greek sculptures. Thanks to his perfect handling of shadows and textures, the familiar silhouettes can be seen in a new way, in which beauty is captured in the subtle details. This photo was taken in Hawaii in 1989, and the author deemed it appropriate not to disclose the identity of the model.
“RACHEL HOLDING SPHERE, HOLLYWOOD, 1989”
The photograph of a young fashion model enveloped in a water stream with a transparent sphere in her arms belongs to the ‘Waterfall’ series shot by Ritts in Hollywood in the late 1980s. This series included nude photos of men and women which convey an abundance of diverse emotions. In those years, many publishers refused to print them, calling them too eccentric and erotic.
“KAREN – THINLY VEILED, LOS ANGELES, 1989”
This photo of young fashion model Karen Alexander was taken in Los Angeles in 1989. For several years, this dark-skinned diva was a muse for Ritts, who viewed her as the ideal of a woman: soft and gentle, but also capricious and purposeful. The photographer wrapped Karen in a translucent veil and directed a flow of air toward her. He took just a couple of shots, which was enough to obtain the intended result.
“ELIZABETH TAYLOR, MALIBU, 1991”
The famous image of Elizabeth Taylor with a towel on her head and a large diamond on her finger was one of the most beloved photographs of the actress. Elizabeth Taylor and Herb Ritts became friends after the very first photo session. Their friendship lasted for many years. The photographer helped the actress to establish her AIDS Foundation with a contribution of one million dollars.
“CORREYA, AFRICA, 1993”
This photograph was taken in 1993, when Herb Ritts took an extended trip to Africa and spent 14 weeks with the Maasai people. His famous book ‘Africa’ came out just a year later, in 1994. Within its covers was a gallery of beautiful young African girls and warriors in ritual masks, breathtaking landscapes, wild animals, and much more.
“VLADIMIR I, HOLLYWOOD, 1990”
As one of the best American photographers of his generation, Herb Ritts captivates the viewer with his ability to see a dual view of his model: he blends the strong athletic body of a man with female attributes like makeup on the face and an elaborate pose. Ritts developed his own style, where devotion to fine art was combined with a commercial component. This photograph of Vladimir, a fashion model, belongs to a series of black-and-white shots taken by Ritts in Hollywood in the early 1990s.
“VERSACE VEILED DRESS, EL MIRAGE, 1990”
Thanks to their graphic simplicity, Herb Ritts’s images are instantly understandable and deeply felt. The photo of a girl under a Versace black veil is full of fascinating mystery and glamour. It conveys the artist’s subtle emotions and hidden melancholy.
“KAZU I, LOS ANGELES, 1995”
The small figure in the picture, huddled up in a protective position and placed on a huge sphere, is Kazu, a Japanese footballer who was a close friend to Ritts. This photo appeared on the cover of a book about this football player, with many fine pictures of him inside.