Nice guy, that David Bailey bloke

[Ash]

I was lucky enough to meet David Bailey today.

A bookstore I frequent occasionally gets known photographers in for booksigning (or even just a hello). I missed Martin Parr a fortnight ago, but was given enough warning to turn up today and meet Bailey.

Funny guy, between myself and the store owners we had a good half hour or so chatting with him and his assistant before they went off to the BBC. Definitely likes to wind people up and have a joke.

I was afraid I'd be let down or disappointed, but luckily he was genuinely a nice guy.

Anyone else met him?

[Toyon]

Which David Bailey?

[Ash]

That one http://paulburgessphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/research-david-bailey.html

[percepts]

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait-list.php?search=sp&sText=david%20bailey

[Simon Benton]

Ash - I met David Bailey once back in the early 60's. I was helping my uncle, who was a magazine photographer, take pictures at a fashion show held at the Savoy Hotel. David Bailey was there and I can remember much rivalry to get the best shot and some friendly banter among the photographers.

[percepts]

which bookstore would that be?

[CantikFotos]

The ladies have always liked him. :D

[percepts]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowup

saw the film for the first time a couple of years ago or so. Bit odd to say the least.

[loopsbro1]

David Bailey.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50yUFyzPENs&feature=relmfu

[Helen Bach]

I met him a few times in the 70's, although 'met' is a gross overstatement for what would have been not much more than a 'Hello' and a smile - I was extremely shy back then. He was a funny, down-to-earth guy, and I think that his fashion work is still some of the best there has ever been, and for good reason. He wrote a great chapter in Fashion: Theory. There's lots of quotable stuff there on all sorts of things, but I chose this expression of his attitude: "I worked with the same five girls all the time, photographing them as people, not as fashion models. My style is reflected in the peculiar personalities of my models more than in any one fashionable technique. I'm styleless but my models aren't."

[Jay DeFehr]

Great quote, Helen. I'll look for the book.