A photography that relishes innovation and walks in alignment with the latest trends, Nick Knight is a British documentary photographer, web publisher and a renowned fashion photographer. He is interested in what the whole photograph reveals rather than just one aspect of the image. In order to lubricate his performance in photography, he is always open to inspiration.
Fashion photography has rapidly developed and transformed since its inception. In the 1930s Edward Steichen brought in flavors to this field and later Richard Avedon added his creativity in 1970s. Now, with the advancement in technology and the availability of highly technical cameras, associated tools, digital photography and image editing software like Photoshop – the platform is open for people like Knight to continue experimenting and creating remarkable pieces of art.
Nick Knight was born in 1958, and studied at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design. He is one of the most hunted fashion photographer in the world. In 1982, he published Skinheads, his first photography book, while studying at Bournemouth. At the time, he was commissioned by Terry Jones, I-D magazine’s editor, to produce 100 portraits for the fifth anniversary issue of the magazine. As a result, Marc Ascoli, an art director commissioned Nick Knight to collaborate with Peter Saville (graphic designer) to shoot for the 1986 catalogue for Yohji Yamamoto (Japanese designer).
Knight has worked on both commercial and editorial projects for customers, such as Audi, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Lauren, Levi Strauss, Mercedes Benz, Royal Opera House, Swarovski and a few more.
In 2000, Knight launched an online broadcasting company, SHOWstudio.com, in order to pioneer a live fashion medium. The website has been involved in interactive assignments, live performances, and films. Dominant and popular figures like Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Boy George, Björk, Anthony and Johnsons, Heston Bluementhal, Leigh Bowery and John Galliano, all collaborated with Knight to be broadcasted live.
In 2001, Nick Knight directed Pagan Poetry, his first music video for Björk. Ten years later, he directed the video, Born this Way for Lady Gaga.
Knight has won awards for working for I-D, The Face, Another Magazine, Dazed & Confused and Vogue as well as for commercial and fashion photography. He photographed covers for albums for The Style Council, Paul Weller, David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Massive Attack, ABC, Gwen Stefani and others. He received several more awards from 1985 to 2006.
Saatchi Gallery, Hayward Gallery, Photographer’s Gallery and Victoria & Albert Museum, international institutions of art, have exhibited works by Nick Knight. He created a permanent installation for the Natural History Museum in 1993 in London, named Plant Power.
His book, Nick Knight, has more fashion photographs by him. This book is a comprehensive volume by Knight, world’s most inventive and inspirational photographer. Nick knight is a book with a variety of photos exploring new-fangled photographic gadgets and techniques; his video projects and images he developed for his website.
He pushes the technical and creative boundaries and this is what distinguishes him from other photographers of his time. Due to this extraordinary talent, he is admired and desired by many famous people; and gets commissioned to take their portraits or work with them on projects. Knight has also explored other issues, such as disability, ageism, fatism, and racism.
Nick Knights fashion photos are exquisite, conceptual, high quality and pose as a challenge to conventional thoughts about beauty.
