Brian Duffy (1933-2010) was a British photographer who was part of the 1960s “Swinging London” scene. He was known for his iconic fashion and celebrity portraits, as well as his innovative use of color photography.
Duffy was born in London in 1933. He began his career as a photographer in the 1950s, working for advertising agencies and magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In the 1960s, he became part of the “Swinging London” scene, photographing celebrities such as David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Twiggy. His work during this period was characterized by its bold use of color and its innovative compositions.
In the 1970s, Duffy moved away from fashion photography to focus on more personal projects. He also began to experiment with different techniques such as solarization and double exposure. During this period he also published several books of his work including Duffy (1973) and The Autobiography of a Photographer (1977).
In the 1980s, Duffy retired from photography altogether and destroyed much of his archive in a bonfire at his studio in 1983. He returned to photography briefly in the 1990s but never regained the same level of success he had achieved during the 1960s and 70s.
Duffy died in 2010 at the age of 77 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years. His legacy lives on through his iconic photographs which continue to inspire photographers today.