Anton Corbijn

Born in 1955 in Holland. His career of music photographer began when he saw the Dutch musician Herman Brood playing at a cafe around 1975. Inspired by the musicians he had photographed he moved to London where he found immediate contact with the most popular bands and artists of the time such as Post Punk, Joy Division, Magazine amongst others. Vogue, Rolling Stones, Details, Icon, The Independent Magazine, W Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, LA Style
After 1985 he mainly photographed only people involved in show business, photographing for a vast collection of magazines such as Vogue, Rolling Stones, Details, Icon, The Independent Magazine, W Magazine, LA style and more where some of the first portraits of now global superstars appeared like the Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode.

All of the pictures have a surreal element to them. For example the David Bowie portrait it is as if Bowie is supposed to be Jesus in the way he is dressed; which makes a seemingly ordinary piece seem much more meaningful and interesting.

His pictures are all usually shot in either black and white or through a filter so they never contain vibrant colours. This gives the pictures an antique kind of feel which seems to add importance to the pictures.

Here are some more examples of his work:

The Killers

U2

Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)

Elvis Costello

All of the portraits show the artists in a calm scenario far removed from their usual lifestyles, this is also reflected in the lack of any colour. This style really appeals to me because even if the pictures were just taken it gives them a classic feel as if these photos will be remembered as part of the bands image during their career.